Ireland Case No. 23237Sexual assault, Section 4 rape · Co. Limerick · 8 Nov 2024
Jury sent home for weekend in Limerick trial over Section 4 rape of teenage boy
A man who was 28 at the time is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, accused of forcing a 16-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him in a toilet in Limerick City on 8 November 2024. After closing speeches and just over an hour of deliberation, Mr Justice Seán Gillane sent the jury home for the weekend on 9 October 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Oct
5 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports66 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe complainant was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offence. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused is charged with one count of sexual assault under Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused pleaded not guilty. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant alleged the accused took him by the hand into a toilet cubicle, locked the door, and sexually assaulted him. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant denied in court that he initiated and willingly engaged in the sex act. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant agreed he did not try to fight off the accused, cry out, seek help, or try to leave the toilet. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant had registered on the Grinder dating app five days before the encounter. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused man was 28 years old at the time of the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant went into the toilet on his way to school on the morning of the incident and the man arrived a short time later. (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 had instigated it and willingly participated. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant had registered on the Grindr dating app five days before the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatAfter washing his hands, the boy continued on to school and made a disclosure of sexual assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused initially told Gardaí he could not remember interacting with the boy in the toilet, but later remembered. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe accused was 28 years old at the time of the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant was five days shy of his 17th birthday at the time of the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe boy went into the toilet on his way to school and the man arrived a short time later. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe man led the boy 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)
- whatUnder cross-examination the complainant agreed he did not protest, shout, or try to leave the cubicle. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatAfter washing his hands the boy continued to school and made a disclosure of sexual assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe complainant agreed the accused had not threatened him prior to, during, or after the incident. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe alleged incident took place at a premises in Limerick city centre. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe alleged assault took place at a premises in Limerick City (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe alleged assault took place in a toilet in a premises in Limerick City. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident occurred in the winter of 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe man went on trial on Monday 5 October 2026 (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident occurred in November 2024 (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe alleged sexual assault occurred on 8 November 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident took place on 8 November 2024. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí were alerted when the boy made a disclosure to a teacher at his school later that day. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe boy was brought to a sexual assault treatment centre on the day and examined. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationA sample swab taken from the complainant's lips contained fluid that was a DNA match for the accused. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage of an area near the toilets was played in court showing the boy waiting around after the alleged assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe boy was examined that day at a sexual assault treatment centre and there were no physical signs of assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage of an area near the toilets was played in court showing the boy waiting after the alleged assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationA Garda probe was immediately launched following the disclosure. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe boy was examined at a sexual assault treatment centre that day and there were no physical signs of assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe accused is charged with one count of sexual assault. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe accused faces one count of sexual assault, Section 4 rape. (limerickpost.ie)
- court27 potential witnesses may be called to give evidence. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe potential witnesses include a worker from a sexual assault treatment unit, several gardaí and CCTV operators. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe trial is expected to last five to seven days. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe trial was set to begin on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA jury of six men and six women was empanelled on Monday, 5 October 2026. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtJudge Sean Gillane presided over the empanelment. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe Central Criminal Court is sitting at Limerick Courthouse, Mulgrave Street. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA jury of six men and six women was sworn in (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Sean Gillane at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial may last up to seven days (limerickpost.ie)
- courtReporting restrictions were imposed barring identification of the accused and the alleged victim (limerickpost.ie)
- courtEvidence of the alleged offence is expected to be disclosed in court on Tuesday (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial is before a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtReporting restrictions were ordered by the court so the parties and specific location cannot be identified. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtA jury of six men and six women retired on Friday afternoon to consider its verdict. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtNone of the parties can be identified because of a court order. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury retired to consider its deliberations around 2.40pm on Friday. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for just over an hour and a half before being sent home for the weekend. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury was to return to court on Monday to continue deliberations. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe man pleaded not guilty to the charge. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe complainant is now of age. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe complainant was five days shy of his 17th birthday at the time of the alleged assault. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe accused was 28 at the time of the alleged assault. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Oct2026Jury sent home for weekend in trial of man accused of forcing teen to perform sex act in toilet
Reports closing speeches at the trial, cross-examination of the complainant, CCTV and forensic evidence, and the jury being sent home for the weekend after 90 minutes of deliberation.
accused, 28, malevictim, 16, male - 9 Oct2026Jury considering verdict in trial of man accused of forcing teen to perform sex act in toilet
Jury retired to deliberate after closing speeches; prosecution and defence arguments detailed; complainant's evidence and cross-examination outlined; forensic semen match and CCTV evidence presented; court order prevents identification of parties.
victim, 16, maleaccused, 28, male - 7 Oct2026Teen denies initiating sex act during alleged assault
First report of the trial. The complainant gave evidence on Wednesday, denying he initiated the act, and the trial continues before a jury of six men and six women.
victim, 16, maleaccused, 28, male - 5 Oct2026Man pleads not guilty to sex assault of teenage boy
Trial commenced; man pleaded not guilty; jury of 12 sworn in; reporting restrictions imposed barring identification of accused and victim; evidence disclosure expected the following day.
accused, malevictim, teenage, male - 5 Oct2026Man accused of sexually assaulting teenage boy to face trial in Limerick
Reports the empanelment of a jury and the imminent start of the trial for a man charged with sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy in Limerick city centre in winter 2024; 27 potential witnesses identified.
accused, malevictim, 16, male