Ireland Case No. 20950Sexual assault · Co. Kerry · 26 Aug 2018
Kerry man jailed over sexual assaults on two women in 2018
Martin Burke (26), a man, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of three counts of sexual assault against two women and acquitted of one count, after pleading not guilty to four. The offences took place on the night of 26 August 2018 in County Kerry, at the end of a night out, when Burke followed the first woman to her room, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her, and later grabbed the second woman's breast while she slept in a bedroom. Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him on 24 May 2023 to five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on condition of engaging with the Probation Service for three years after release, and ordered him to have no contact with the victims. Press reports gave the sentence as four and a half years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- Other details
- The suspect is Martin Burke, a man aged 26.
- The judge said Burke showed no real acceptance of the harm his actions caused.
- Burke has no previous convictions for sexual offending.
- What happened
- Burke was convicted of three counts of sexual assault involving two women and acquitted of one count.
- Burke bit the first woman's cheek and sexually assaulted her in her room, an attack that involved penetrative sexual assault and violence.
- Burke grabbed the second woman's breast while she was sleeping in a bedroom.
- Where
- The offences took place in Co Kerry, where the first woman met Burke again in a Kerry town and invited him back to her home.
- Burke had an address in Tralee, Co Kerry.
- When
- The offences took place on the night of 26 August 2018, at the end of a night out.
- Cause
- The defence said the offending took place against a background of intoxication and misuse of alcohol and drugs, and the court heard that there was drinking and cannabis was consumed.
- Charges
- Burke pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where a jury convicted Burke of three counts relating to the two women and acquitted him on one count.
- Sentence
- Justice Paul McDermott imposed an operative sentence of five and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, on condition that Burke engage with the Probation Service for three years after release; press reports described the sentence as four and a half years.
- Burke was ordered to stay away from the victims and have no contact with them.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBurke was convicted of three counts of sexual assault involving two victims and acquitted on one count. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBurke bit one woman's cheek and then sexually assaulted her in her room. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe attack on the first woman involved penetrative sexual assault and violence. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBurke grabbed the second woman's breast while she was sleeping in a bedroom. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man sexually assaulted two women one after another at the end of a night out. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBurke followed the first woman into her room, became violent, bit her cheek and sexually assaulted her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBurke went into the bedroom where the second woman was sleeping and grabbed her breast. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at a place in Co Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe first woman met Burke again in a Kerry town and invited him back to her home. (irishtimes.com)
- whereBurke had an address in Tralee, Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences took place on the night of 26 August 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on the night of 26 August 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe defence said the offending took place against a background of intoxication and misuse of alcohol and drugs. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeBurke pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Burke of three counts relating to the two victims and acquitted him on one count. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBurke was given an operative sentence of five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended part is conditional on Burke engaging with the Probation Service for three years after release. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBurke was ordered to stay away from the victims and have no contact with them. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJustice Paul McDermott imposed an operative sentence of five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on condition of probation engagement for three years after release. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said Burke showed no real acceptance of the harm his actions caused. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBurke has no previous convictions for sexual offending. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 May2023Kerry man who sexually assaulted two women one after the other jailed for 4½ years
Reports the sentencing of an August 2018 Kerry incident tried at the Central Criminal Court. It is a different incident from the December 2022 Tralee case in the existing list (id 2327).
convicted, Martin Burke, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Burkevictim, femalevictim, female - 24 May2023Kerry man who sexually assaulted two women on same night out is jailed
Sentencing report for 2018 sexual assaults on two women in Co Kerry. This is a different incident from existing case 2327, which concerns offences on 18 December 2022.
convicted, Martin Burke, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Burkevictim, femalevictim, female