Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0810Indecent assault · Co. Limerick · 1 Aug 1971

Limerick man sentenced to six years for indecent assault of neighbour

Tom White, a 76-year-old man from Limerick (one earlier report gives his age as 75), was found guilty by a jury of 10 counts of indecent assault of a young girl who was his neighbour, with offences occurring between August 1971 and August 1976 at both their homes. The complainant was aged between 13 and 16 at the time, and the abuse, which included groping, lewd commentary and physical abuse, occurred several times a week until she moved out of home at 16. White, who was in his 20s at the time and had no previous convictions, was tried at Limerick Courthouse earlier in 2026 and acquitted of a number of other counts on the indictment. On 15 June 2026, Judge Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court set a headline sentence of 10 years and reduced it to six years' imprisonment.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted20 Apr
  6. Sentenced15 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Tom White was found guilty by a jury of 10 counts of indecent assault of a young girl who was his neighbour.
  • The offences, which included groping, lewd commentary and physical abuse, occurred several times a week.
  • The complainant was aged between 13 and 16 at the time, and the abuse ended when she moved out of home at 16.
Where
The offences took place at the girl's home and White's home in Limerick; White lives in Brookhaven, Montpelier, Co Limerick.
When
The offences occurred on dates between August 1971 and August 1976.
Charges
White was found guilty by a jury of 10 counts of indecent assault and acquitted of a number of other counts on the indictment.
In court
The trial was held at Limerick Courthouse earlier in 2026, and sentencing was held at the Central Criminal Court before Judge Eileen Creedon.
Sentence
Judge Creedon set a headline sentence of 10 years and reduced it to six years' imprisonment on 15 June 2026.
Other details
  • White, who was in his 20s at the time of the offences, had no previous convictions and had never come to garda attention in the 50 years since.
  • White has health issues including heart problems, is married with three children, and has been married for about 50 years.
  • Reports differ on White's age, with one article describing him as 75 and another as 76.
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTom White was found guilty by a jury of 10 counts of indecent assault. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe abuse was carried out repeatedly against a young girl who was a neighbour. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe complainant was aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatTom White, a 76-year-old Limerick man, was jailed for six years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatTom White is 76 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe complainant was aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the offence (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhite was in his 20s at the time of the offence (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe abuse occurred several times a week (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhite was also physically abusive towards the girl (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe abuse ended when the young woman moved out of home at the age of 16 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhite has a long work history and has been married for about 50 years (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhite has health issues including heart problems (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhite has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWhite went on to marry and had three children (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe first assault occurred when the girl was sent to his house to check on a meal being cooked (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at the girl's home and White's home in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe indecent assaults took place at the girl's home and White's home in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereWhite lives in Brookhaven, Montpelier, Co Limerick (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences occurred at the girl's home and White's home in Limerick (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences took place on dates between August 1971 and August 1976. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe offences were committed on dates between August 1971 and August 1976. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe offences occurred on dates between August 1971 and August 1976 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeWhite was found guilty by a jury of 10 counts of indecent assault. (limerickleader.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was held at Limerick Courthouse. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtWhite was acquitted of a number of other counts on the indictment. (limerickleader.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge adjourned sentencing to June 15. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtWhite was remanded on continuing bail until sentencing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe sentence was imposed at the Central Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Eileen Creedon presided over the sentencing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial was held in Limerick earlier this year (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Eileen Creedon presided over the sentencing (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceIndecent assault carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 10 years and reduced it to six years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceWhite was sentenced to six years' imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 10 years which she reduced to six years (irishtimes.com)
  • otherWhite had no previous convictions and had never come to garda attention in the 50 years since the offences. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jun2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for six years for sexual abuse of neighbour 50 years ago

    Reports the sentencing of Tom White to six years (reduced from a headline 10 years) for 10 counts of indecent assault of a neighbour girl, with details of the abuse, the trial evidence, and the victim impact statement.

    victim, femaleconvicted, Tom White, 76, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom White
  2. 15 Jun2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    'Horror': Limerick man jailed for sexual abuse of neighbour 50 years ago

    Reports the sentencing of Tom White after a jury trial in Limerick. The victim was aged 13 to 16 at the time, and the article adds the jury verdict, the acquittals and the reduced sentence. No existing case matches.

    convicted, Tom White, 76, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom Whitevictim, female
  3. 20 Apr2026
    Convictedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    'I was a happy child' - Limerick pensioner repeatedly groped and sexually abused young girl

    Reports the jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court, the acquittals on other counts, the victim's impact statement, and the adjournment of sentence to June 15. No existing case matches.

    convicted, Tom White, 75, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom Whitevictim, female