Ireland Case No. 11322Rape · Co. Longford
Longford rape victim's bravery and resilience commended after sentencing
Shane Kelly, a 36-year-old man, forced his way into the home of 70-year-old Anne Gallagher in County Longford in the early hours of 25 February 2025, choked her, sexually assaulted her and robbed her of petty cash. Kelly was identified from CCTV footage, arrested and interviewed. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape, one count of oral rape, one count of anal rape and one count of burglary, and on Monday 26 January 2026 the Central Criminal Court jailed him for 13 years, with the final 18 months suspended. On 28 January 2026 Detective Inspector Yvonne Martin commended the victim's extraordinary bravery and resilience.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced26 Jan
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kelly forced his way into the 70-year-old woman's home late at night, wearing a mask, and subjected her to a sexual ordeal.
- Kelly choked the woman and robbed her of petty cash.
- Where
- The attack took place at the 70-year-old woman's home in Longford.
- Kelly is of no fixed abode in Edgeworthstown, County Longford.
- When
- The attack took place in the early hours of 25 February 2025.
- Cause
- The judge said Kelly knew of the victim's vulnerability, including her arthritis and need for mobility aids, when he carried out the pre-meditated attack.
- Weapon
- The offence involved violence and manual strangulation.
- Investigation
- CCTV footage showed Kelly in the area, and he was identified from it, arrested and interviewed.
- Charges
- Kelly pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape, one count of oral rape, one count of anal rape and one count of burglary.
- In court
- The sentencing was heard at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, 26 January 2026, before Ms Justice Melanie Greally.
- Sentence
- Kelly was jailed for 13 years; the judge set a headline sentence of 18 years, reduced to 14 and a half years for mitigating factors, and suspended the final 18 months on conditions.
- Other details
- A Probation Service report assessed Kelly as a medium risk of re-offending.
- The defence said Kelly had a long history of alcohol and drug addiction, and Kelly said he had no recollection of the night because he was on cocaine.
- The judge said the harm to the victim was life-altering, and that she has lost her independence.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions placed the case in the 10 to 15 years category, but the judge disagreed and said Kelly's culpability was of a particularly extreme level.
- The victim waived her anonymity, and Detective Inspector Yvonne Martin commended her extraordinary bravery and resilience.
38 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKelly pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape, one count of oral rape, one count of anal rape and one count of burglary. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatKelly forced his way into the victim's home late at night. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatA masked man entered the home and locked the door behind him. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatKelly robbed the victim of petty cash. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe offence included the use of violence and manual strangulation. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatA man attacked and raped his elderly, vulnerable neighbour during a violent home invasion. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatShane Kelly forced his way into the 70-year-old woman's home late at night. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatKelly forced himself on the woman sexually, choked her and robbed her of petty cash. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at the 70-year-old woman's home. (rte.ie)
- whereKelly is of no fixed abode in Edgeworthstown, County Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe man forced his way into the 70-year-old woman's home late at night. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe victim is described as a Longford rape victim. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe attack took place in the early hours of 25 February 2025. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences took place in the early hours of February 25, 2025. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage showed Kelly loitering near the woman's home, and he was identified from it, arrested and interviewed. (rte.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage showed Kelly loitering in the area, and he was identified, arrested and interviewed. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationCCTV footage showed Kelly in the area, and he was identified from it, arrested and interviewed. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationDetective Inspector Yvonne Martin commended the bravery of the victim, Anne Gallagher. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe case was heard in the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe sentencing was heard at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, January 26. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe Central Criminal Court heard the case on a Monday. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceKelly was jailed for 13 years. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 18 years and reduced it to 14 and a half years after mitigating factors. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on a number of conditions. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 18 years, reduced to 14 and a half years for mitigating factors. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on conditions. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 18 years, reduced to 14 and a half years after mitigating factors. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherKelly choked the woman and robbed her of petty cash. (rte.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherKelly said he had no recollection of the night because he was on cocaine. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said the harm to the woman was life-altering. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said Kelly knew of the victim's vulnerability when he carried out the pre-meditated attack. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe judge said the harm to the victim has been life-altering. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe defence said Kelly had a long history of alcohol and drug addiction. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe attacker was masked when he entered the house. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherKelly said he had no recollection of the night as he was on cocaine. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherA Probation Service report assessed Kelly as a medium risk of re-offending. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim waived her anonymity. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jan2026'Extraordinary bravery and resilience' of Longford rape victim commended
Reports the sentencing of Shane Kelly at the Central Criminal Court, Dublin, and the victim's decision to waive anonymity. Gives the 13-year sentence and a Detective Inspector's statement. Does not give the date of the offence.
victim, Anne Gallagher, 70, female, irish (judged from name)Anne Gallagherconvicted, Shane Kelly, 36, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Kelly - 27 Jan2026'Horrific': Man in Midlands who raped vulnerable neighbour jailed for 13 years
Sentencing report for the Central Criminal Court case. No existing case in the list matches this incident.
convicted, Shane Kelly, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Kellyvictim, Anne Gallagher, 70, female, irish (judged from name)Anne Gallagher - 26 Jan2026'Horrific': Longford man who raped vulnerable neighbour jailed for thirteen years
Sentencing report: Kelly jailed for 13 years at the Central Criminal Court, with the final 18 months suspended on conditions. The victim, Anne Gallagher, waived anonymity so Kelly could be named.
convicted, Shane Kelly, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Kellyvictim, Anne Gallagher, 70, female, irish (judged from name)Anne Gallagher - 26 Jan2026Man jailed for 13 years for raping elderly neighbour
Sentencing report from the Central Criminal Court. No existing case in the list matches this incident.
convicted, Shane Kelly, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Kellyvictim, Anne Gallagher, 70, female, irish (judged from name)Anne Gallagher