Ireland Jury fails to reach verdict in Limerick Section 4 rape trial
A jury at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, failed to reach a verdict after seven and a half hours of deliberation in the trial of a man accused of forcing a schoolboy to perform oral sex on him in a toilet in Limerick City on 8 November 2024. The accused, who was 28 at the time, was remanded on continuing bail for retrial.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court12 Oct
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe complainant was five days shy of his 17th birthday at the time of the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant claimed the man led him by the hand into a cubicle and forced him to perform oral sex. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused accepted the complainant performed oral sex but claimed the teen instigated it and willingly participated. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe teen had registered on the Grindr dating app five days before the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatCCTV footage of an area near the toilets was played in court showing the boy waiting around after the alleged assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe boy continued on to school and made a disclosure of sexual assault, and a Garda probe was immediately launched. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused initially told Gardaí he could not remember interacting with the boy in the toilet, but later remembered. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe man allegedly led the schoolboy by the hand into a cubicle and forced him to perform oral sex. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant had registered on the Grindr dating app five days before the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe boy was examined at a sexual assault treatment centre and there were no physical signs of assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe boy made a disclosure of sexual assault and a Garda probe was immediately launched. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault, Section 4 rape. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial is at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial judge is Mr Justice Sean Gillane. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury of six men and six women has been deliberating since the previous Friday. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe judge told the jury it could return a majority verdict of 11-1 or 10-2. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury said it could not reach a verdict of any kind and was sent home to return on Tuesday. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtNone of the parties can be identified because of a court order. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe prosecution was directed by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly, barrister Lily Buckley, and state solicitor Orla Farrell. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe defence was represented by senior counsel Mark Nicholas, instructed by Kenny Keirns, and Kiely McCarthy Solicitors. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded on continuing bail for retrial at a later date. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Oct2026Jury fails to reach verdict in trial of man accused of forcing teen to perform sex act in toilet
Reports the jury's failure to reach a verdict after 7.5 hours of deliberation, details of trial evidence including CCTV footage and a forensic swab match, the defence argument that the complainant willingly participated, and the remand of the accused on continuing bail for retrial.
accused, 28, malevictim, 17, male - 12 Oct2026Verdict still awaited in trial of man accused of forcing teen to perform sex act in toilet
Reports on the jury's deliberation: the jury retired last Friday, was sent home for the weekend, returned Monday without a verdict, was told by Mr Justice Sean Gillane it could return a majority verdict of 11-1 or 10-2, said it could not reach any verdict, and was sent home to continue on Tuesday. The article also details the prosecution and defence closing arguments and key evidence.
accused, 28, malevictim, 16, male