Case No. 7319Defilement of a child · Co. Dublin

Man acquitted of defilement of a child in Dublin

A 40-year-old Irish broadcaster who cannot be named for legal reasons was acquitted on 20 October 2023 of three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17 at locations in Dublin. The complainant, who was 16 at the time, alleged the man, then 27, orally penetrated her on three occasions between August and December 2010, once on a staircase at his workplace and twice at his home. He was arrested on 14 February 2023, pleaded not guilty, and the case went to an eight-day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Pauline Codd. After deliberating for just under six hours, the jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on all counts.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged14 Feb
    3 reports
  4. In court14 Feb
    34 reports
  5. Acquitted20 Oct
    5 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The man is accused of three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17, specifically oral sex.
  • The complainant was 16 at the time of the alleged offences and the accused was 27.
Where
The alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin, including a staircase at the accused's then workplace and his home.
When
The alleged offences occurred on dates between August and December 2010, with one incident on 14 December 2010.
Investigation
  • The man was arrested on 14 February 2023 by officers from a Divisional Protective Services Bureau.
  • Gardaí seized nine mobile phones during a search of the accused's home on 7 June 2021.
Charges
He was charged with three counts of defilement of a child under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006.
In court
  • He pleaded not guilty and the DPP directed trial on indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
  • The eight-day trial took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Pauline Codd, beginning on 10 October 2023.
Sentence
The jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on all three counts on 20 October 2023 after deliberating for just under six hours.
Other details
  • The man cannot be named for legal reasons.
  • The complainant and the accused met at the Oxegen Music Festival in July 2010.
275 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAn Irish entertainment industry figure in their 30s was charged with defilement of a child. (extra.ie)
  • whatThe accused is a 39-year-old entertainer and broadcaster. (rte.ie)
  • whatHe is accused of engaging in oral sex with a child under 17 on 14 December 2010. (rte.ie)
  • whatTwo further offences are alleged on an unknown date in 2010 and an unknown date between August 2010 and 23 January 2011. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe accused is an entertainment industry figure (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused is a man in his thirties (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn Irish celebrity man in his 30s is in court on child sex charges. (extra.ie)
  • whatThe man is charged with defilement of a child under 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA high-profile Irish celebrity has been charged with defilement of a minor. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAn Irish celebrity charged with defilement of a minor has had his bail varied to allow the return of his passport for two weeks. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man is charged with engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl. (gript.ie)
  • whatThe accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatIt is alleged the accused orally penetrated the teenager on a staircase at his then place of work. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIt is alleged the accused orally penetrated the teenager on two occasions at his home in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe State's case is that the accused put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized nine mobile phones during a search of the home of an Irish celebrity accused of engaging in sexual acts with a teenage girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe State alleges the accused put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe complainant was 16 at the time of the alleged offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe accused was 27 at the time of the alleged offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA man in his 40s is accused of sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl when he was 27. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe State alleges the man put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA man accused of sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl was acquitted on all charges. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe man was aged 27 at the time of the alleged offences. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whatAn Irish celebrity was acquitted of engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatAllegations were heard that the man engaged in oral sex with the complainant when she was under 17 at three separate locations. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe offences are alleged to have taken place in Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe offences allegedly occurred at two unknown locations in Dublin and one in the city centre. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at two unknown locations in Dublin and one in the city centre (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at unknown locations in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie, irishtimes.com, rte.ie, dublinlive.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe trial date was set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe application was made at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe bail variation application was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin. (irishtimes.com, gript.ie, irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie, dublinlive.ie, rte.ie)
  • whereThe complainant said the first alleged incident happened in the stairwell of the accused's workplace building. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe complainant said she met the accused on the final night of the Oxegen Music Festival. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereOne alleged sex act took place on a staircase at the accused's then place of work. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereTwo alleged sex acts took place at the accused's home in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe offences are alleged to have taken place at locations in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences were alleged to have happened at locations in Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe man was arrested on 14 February 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incidents occurred on dates in 2010 and early 2011. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenOne incident allegedly occurred on 14 December 2010. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whenAnother incident occurred from August 2010. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenOne incident occurred before 23 January 2011. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe third charge relates to an unknown date in 2010. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe accused was arrested on Tuesday morning, 14 February 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred on dates in 2010 and early 2011 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenA second incident occurred on a date from August 2010 and before 23 January 2011 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates in 2010 and early 2011. (irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie, irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
  • whenOne alleged offence occurred on 14 December 2010. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOther alleged offences occurred on an unknown date between August 2010 and 23 January 2011. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred on dates in 2010 and early 2011. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were on dates in 2010 and early 2011. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place in 2010 and early 2011. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between August 2010 and December 2010. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place between August 2010 and December 2010. (gript.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were on dates between August 2010 and December 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between August and December 2010. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were between August and December 2010. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place between August and December 2010. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe complainant was 16 at the time of the alleged offences, and the accused was 27. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences are said to have occurred between August and December 2010. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred on dates between August and December 2010. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were said to have happened between August 2010 and December 2010. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred between August and December 2010. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences were on dates between August and December 2010. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were said to have taken place between August 2010 and December 2010. (gript.ie)
  • investigationHe was arrested by officers from a Divisional Protective Services Bureau on Tuesday morning. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA Garda detective attached to a protective services unit gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe accused must give details of his flights to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA garda witness said he was present during a search of the man's house on June 7, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationFour Huawei phones and five iPhones were seized by gardaí following the search. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe man provided the PIN numbers for the nine phones to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAn expert witness said four of the nine phones required specialist repairs before they could be examined. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationData was extracted from eight of the nine phones seized at the man's house. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí took a DNA sample from the man on May 5th 2022, during a period of detention. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA detective sergeant became aware of the complainant's allegations against the man in March 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized nine mobile phones during a search of the accused's home. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA garda was present during a search of the accused's house on 7 June 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí took a DNA sample from the accused on 5 May 2022 during a period of detention. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationJury members asked to hear again portions of the complainant's evidence about her meetings with the defendant. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized nine phones from the man's home during a search. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with three counts of defilement of a child. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe faces three charges of engaging in oral sex with a child under 17. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe faces three charges of engaging in oral sex with a child under 17 under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe is accused of three charges of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man is charged with defilement of a minor. (offalyexpress.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faces three charges of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (offalyexpress.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man is accused of three charges of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe accused faces three charges of defilement of a child. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused is accused of a sexual act with a child under 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused is accused of three charges of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (rte.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe article headline says a celebrity was charged with defilement of a minor. (extra.ie)
  • chargeHe faces three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe accused denies all of the charges against him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe State alleges the accused put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once in his workplace and twice in his home. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe Irish celebrity is accused of sex acts with a teen girl. (extra.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie, gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with sex acts with a minor. (extra.ie)
  • chargeThe man denies three charges of defilement of a child. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was brought before the Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe accused made no reply to the charges. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment or that the case can be sent forward on signed pleas of guilty. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge John Brennan imposed reporting restrictions following an application by the man's lawyer. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe was granted bail on his own bond of €500. (rte.ie)
  • courtA condition of bail is that he has no contact with the injured party. (rte.ie)
  • courtThere was no application for legal aid. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded on bail to appear again at Dublin District Court next month. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before Judge John Brennan at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtReporting restrictions were applied. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment, sending the case to the Circuit Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP also directed he could be sent forward for sentencing on a signed plea. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded on bail in his bond of €500. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe is to appear again in March to be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtA condition was set that there must be no contact with the complainant. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThere was no legal aid application. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe walked from the Criminal Courts of Justice about an hour and a half after the hearing. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared in court after being sent forward from Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA trial date has been set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is due to begin on October 9 and is expected to last four or five days. (irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until July 24 for a hearing on outstanding disclosure. (irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA trial date has been set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court later this year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe man was sent forward from Dublin District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being sent forward from Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is due to begin on October 9th and is expected to last four or five days. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until July 24th for a hearing on outstanding disclosure. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAn October trial date has been set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a media personality charged with defilement of a minor. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared before the court after being sent forward from Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe trial is due to begin on 9 October and is expected to last four or five days. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe adjourned the case until 24 July for a hearing on outstanding disclosure. (rte.ie)
  • courtBail terms were varied on Monday to allow the accused to go abroad for two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe application was made by barrister Ian Woodland. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution did not object to the variation. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe passport must be returned by 18 August at the latest. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is due to take place in October. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence applied for the return of the accused's passport for August 3 to August 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe State consented to the application. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe granted the bail variation application. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe case was listed before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a bail variation, granted on consent. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe allowed the accused's passport to be returned from 3 to 18 August. (rte.ie)
  • courtA trial date has been set from 9 October, expected to last four or five days. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe court heard the complainant is now in her late 20s. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe State consented to the bail variation application. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe case was listed before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a bail variation. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Orla Crowe granted the bail variation on consent. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel had earlier asked for an early trial date, saying the case was seriously affecting his client. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtA trial date is set from 9 October, expected to last four or five days. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man was present at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday when a jury was selected. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is expected to open on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is expected to last four to five days. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe appeared at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded not guilty and denies all three charges. (gript.ie)
  • courtA jury was selected and the trial is set to begin the next day. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe trial is due to last four to five days. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe accused appeared in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and a jury was selected. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge directed jurors not to speak about the case outside the jury room. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial was due to formally start the next day and was expected to last four to five days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury at Dublin's Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial was set to continue the afternoon of the report. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial began on the first day at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial opened at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury at Dublin Circuit Court. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtA woman gave evidence at the defilement trial of an Irish celebrity. (extra.ie)
  • courtThe case is being heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe complainant told the court she was in the man's house twice and they engaged in sexual acts. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence put to the complainant that nothing of an intimate or sexual nature happened. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA friend of the complainant told the court the complainant said she performed oral sex on the man in a stairwell at his workplace. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCross-examination of the complainant started the previous day and continued on the day of the report. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that the complainant initially told the accused she was 18. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial is ongoing. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe accused was cross-examined by the prosecution, which put it to him that the complainant's account was the only plausible version of events. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe court previously heard that the complainant first told the accused she was 18 when they met at a music festival in July 2010. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtProsecuting counsel Eilis Brennan SC gave the closing address for the prosecution. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtProsecuting counsel said the man's version of events was unbelievable and riddled with inconsistencies. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence argued it had objective, independent evidence backing its case. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence closing speech continues the next day before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence made its closing speech on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence argued that nothing sexual happened between the man and the complainant before her 17th birthday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence asked the jury to find the man not guilty on all three counts. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge has started her direction to the jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury is expected to begin deliberations on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence counsel delivered a closing speech to the jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge has started directing the jurors. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury is expected to begin deliberations the following day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel Morgan Shelley BL asked the jury to find the man not guilty on all three counts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge began directing the jury, who are expected to begin deliberations the next day. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge told the jury they must apply the law that the legal age of consent is 17 regardless of any views they hold. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel told the court that the accused's life hangs in the balance. (extra.ie)
  • courtThe case is before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury began deliberating after an eight-day trial. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury will resume deliberating on its verdicts tomorrow. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury has begun deliberations at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for just over three hours on day eight before the judge told them to stop for the evening. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury will return the next day to continue considering the verdicts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for more than five and a half hours before the verdicts. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe defendant denied all the charges. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned verdicts of not guilty on all counts after an eight-day trial. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for just under six hours. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe complainant was not present when the verdicts were returned. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was tried at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial lasted eight days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the court would accept a majority verdict on which at least 10 jurors agreed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial took place at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for just under six hours before returning verdicts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on all counts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe verdicts followed an eight-day trial. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Pauline Codd presided and thanked the jurors. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtA jury of nine men and three women found the man not guilty of all three charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe jury took five and a half hours to deliberate on the counts. (gript.ie)
  • sentenceThe accused's passport is to be returned for the period 3 to 17 August. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe accused must give gardaí details of his flights and accommodation. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe passport must be returned to the garda no later than August 18. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe accused cannot be named for legal reasons (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man cannot be named for legal reasons. (irishmirror.ie, rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man denies all charges against him. (irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie, rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence asked for an early trial date, saying the case is seriously affecting the client. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant is now in her late 20s. (irishmirror.ie, offalyexpress.ie, irishtimes.com, rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel asked for an early trial date because the case is seriously affecting his client, whose work requires him to travel. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused denies all charges against him. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefence counsel asked for an early trial date, saying the case is seriously affecting the accused, whose work requires him to travel. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence asked for an early trial date because the case is seriously affecting the client, whose work requires him to travel. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe accused denies all charges. (irishmirror.ie, rte.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe bail conditions set in March required the accused to surrender his passport, have no contact with the complainant or witnesses, and give gardaí his mobile phone number. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe passport must be returned to gardaí no later than August 18, and flight details must be given to the investigating garda. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe defence had earlier asked for an early trial date, saying the case was seriously affecting the accused, whose work requires travel. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe headline says the accused was allowed to travel abroad. (extra.ie)
  • otherThe variation allows the man's passport to be returned from 3 to 18 August 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man must give details of his flights and accommodation to gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge, Patricia Ryan, told jurors not to speak about the trial outside the jury room. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge told jurors not to speak about the case outside the jury room or investigate the allegations on their own. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe complainant first claimed to be 17 and then told the accused she was 16. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused allegedly asked the complainant if she was 'sweet 16' in a text message. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution said the accused was 27 when he met the complainant. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant told the court she told the accused she was 16 before any sexual activity. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence's position is that the complainant did not tell the accused her actual age until she turned 17 in January 2011. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused is 40 years old and cannot be named for legal reasons. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said she was 16 when she met the accused. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was a 16-year-old girl at the time of the alleged offences. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution's case is that the accused knew the complainant was under 17. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution said the Act provides that consent by a child is not a defence. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe defence says the complainant told the accused her age only after she turned 17. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe trial is continuing. (dublinlive.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe woman said she told the accused she was 16. (extra.ie)
  • otherThe defence put to the complainant that nothing sexual happened at the accused's home and that she never went there. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said she was in the accused's house twice and they engaged in sexual acts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was 16 at the time and the man was 27. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said she was in the man's house twice and they engaged in sexual acts. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said it was the accused's position that the complainant never went to his house and nothing sexual happened there. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe complainant initially told the man she was 18. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant was 16 at the time, and the accused was 27. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe accused denied any wrongdoing. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe account was described as riddled with inconsistencies. (extra.ie)
  • otherThe man has denied any wrongdoing. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was 16 and the man was 27 at the time of the alleged offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the man has a cast-iron alibi for 14 December. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man cannot be identified. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge told the jury there is no corroborating evidence and they only have the complainant's word. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe complainant said she met the man at the Oxegen music festival in 2010. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was aged 16 when the alleged offences occurred. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused was aged 27 at the time of the alleged offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man denied all three charges against him. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe complainant and the accused had met at the Oxegen music festival in July 2010. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe complainant admitted she had lied about her age to the accused. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity found not guilty of defilement of underage girl - Gript

    Reports the jury verdict of not guilty on all three counts after a trial, and the evidence heard, including that the complainant had lied about her age.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irish
  2. 20 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity found not guilty of engaging in sexual acts with 16-year-old girl over a decade ago

    Reports the acquittal of the accused after an eight-day trial at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the jury's majority verdicts, and that the complainant was not present for the verdicts.

    accused, 40, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 16, female
  3. 20 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity found not guilty of the defilement of a child

    Reports the jury verdicts of not guilty on all counts after an eight-day trial, following a majority verdict direction.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  4. 20 Oct2023
    Broadcaster accused of engaging in sexual acts with girl (16) found not guilty at Circuit Criminal Court

    Reports the jury verdict of not guilty on all counts after an eight-day trial, including the jury's deliberation time, the accused's age, and details of the phone seizure in 2021.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 29, female
  5. 20 Oct2023
    Celebrity found not guilty of sexual acts with teen

    Reports the jury verdicts: the accused was acquitted on all three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17.

    accused, 27, malevictim, 16, female
  6. 19 Oct2023
    Jury continues deliberations in trial of celebrity accused of defilement of 16-year-old girl

    Reports the jury beginning and continuing deliberations in the trial on day eight, after the judge's charge; the verdicts are still pending.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  7. 19 Oct2023
    Celebrity trial jury to resume deliberations tomorrow

    Reports that the jury began deliberating after an eight-day trial, will resume tomorrow, and asked to hear again parts of the complainant's evidence about her meetings with the defendant.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, 16, female
  8. 18 Oct2023
    Defence Counsel For Irish Celeb Accused Of Sex Acts With Minor Tells Court ‘His Life Hangs In The Balance’

    Only the headline survived. The article body contains page template code and no details of the charges, court or dates.

    accusedvictim
  9. 18 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity accused of defilement 'will never work again if convicted', jury told by defence

    Reports the defence closing speech, the judge's directions to the jury, and that deliberations are expected to begin the next day. Names no one.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female
  10. 18 Oct2023
    Celeb defilement trial jurors told to focus on time woman told truth about age

    Report of the defence closing speech in the trial. The judge has started directing the jury, and deliberations are expected to begin the following day.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  11. 18 Oct2023
    Nothing sexual happened between broadcaster and girl before her 17th birthday, jury told

    Covers the defence closing speech in the trial, the judge's start of her direction to the jury, and the expected start of deliberations; no existing case matches.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female
  12. 17 Oct2023
    Trial of celebrity accused of defilement of teen told man's version of events is 'unbelievable'

    Covers the closing addresses in the trial. The prosecution argued the complainant's account was the only plausible one, and the defence closing continues the next day before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  13. 17 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity Accused Of Sex Acts With Teen Girl Has Told Account 'Riddled With Inconsistencies', Trial Hears

    Only the headline is usable; the body is unrendered template code with no case details.

    accused, irish (judged from name)
  14. 16 Oct2023
    Celebrity accused of defilement accepts complainant doesn't hold grudge against him, court hears

    Reports on the cross-examination of the accused at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including his evidence on the complainant's age, the locations and the timeline of the relationship. The trial continues.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female
  15. 12 Oct2023
    Nine phones seized from home of Irish celebrity accused of sex acts with teenager, court told

    Reports evidence at the ongoing Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, including the 2021 house search, the phones seized and the DNA sample taken in 2022. The accused is not named for legal reasons.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female
  16. 12 Oct2023
    Gardaí seized nine phones belonging to Irish broadcaster accused of defilement of child, court hears

    Court report on the trial: evidence from gardaí about the 2021 search, seized phones, data extraction, the DNA sample and the complainant's age claim. The article does not give a single incident date.

    accused, 40, malevictim, female
  17. 11 Oct2023
    Complainant rejects claims she was never in the home of Irish celebrity charged with defilement

    Reports cross-examination of the complainant in the ongoing trial; the accused's defence disputes that she was ever at his home, and the trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury.

    accused, 40, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 16, female
  18. 11 Oct2023
    Woman rejects suggestion that nothing of ‘an intimate or sexual nature’ happened at home of broadcaster

    Reports the cross-examination of the complainant at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including defence challenges to her account and evidence from a friend and a former senior executive at the man's workplace.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16 at time of alleged offences, female
  19. 11 Oct2023
    Woman in Irish celebrity defilement trial rejects defence claims

    Reports the complainant's cross-examination and the defence's suggestions that nothing sexual happened at the accused's home or workplace. The trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury. The accused cannot be named for legal reasons.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16 at the time of the alleged offences, female
  20. 11 Oct2023
    Woman Tells Irish Celebrity’s Defilement Trial ‘I Told Him I Was 16’

    The article text is empty apart from the headline and page template code, so the only facts available come from the headline.

    accused, male, Irish, irishvictim, female
  21. 11 Oct2023
    Irish broadcaster accused of sexually 'defiling' 16-year-old girl in Dublin

    Trial report: the accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts; the prosecution, defence and complainant's evidence are reported, and the trial continues. No existing case matches this incident.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, 16, female
  22. 10 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity goes on trial accused of engaging in sexual act with a 16-year-old girl

    Reports the opening day of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. The accused pleaded not guilty to three counts, and the complainant gave evidence and was cross-examined. No existing case covers this trial.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  23. 10 Oct2023
    Woman insists she told broadcaster she was 16 before they engaged in sexual activity

    Trial report from day one of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial. The complainant gave evidence and was cross-examined by the defence, and the trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury. No verdict is reported.

    accused, 40, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female
  24. 10 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity accused of sexually defiling 16-year-old on workplace stairwell

    Trial report from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The accused has pleaded not guilty and cannot be named for legal reasons. The article gives the alleged offending dates only as between August and December 2010.

    accused, 40s, male, Irish, irishvictim, 16, female
  25. 9 Oct2023
    Trial of Irish celebrity charged with defilement of a child to begin tomorrow

    Reports the start of the trial: the jury was selected and the trial was due to open the next day. The accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts.

    accused, 40s, male
  26. 9 Oct2023
    Irish celebrity in court charged with engaging in sexual acts with underage girl - Gript

    Reports the court appearance, the three charges, the alleged 2010 dates and locations, and the start of the trial, including the not guilty plea and the judge's directions to the jury.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, under 17, female
  27. 9 Oct2023
    Jury selected in trial of Irish broadcaster accused of defiling a minor

    Reports that a jury was selected on Monday for the trial, that the trial is expected to open on Tuesday and last four to five days, and that the man has pleaded not guilty to three counts. Gives the alleged period (August to December 2010) and the court.

    accused, 40s, male, Irish, irish
  28. 24 Jul2023
    Irish celebrity charged with defilement has bail varied to allow return of passport

    First report of this case. Adds the three charges, the 2010 to early 2011 dates, the denial of charges, the bail variation returning the passport from 3 to 18 August 2023, and the trial date of 9 October.

    accused, 40s, male, Irish, irishvictim, late 20s, female
  29. 24 Jul2023
    Irish celeb charged with defilement of child gets passport back to travel abroad

    Court report on a bail variation in a specific case: the passport is returned for August 3 to August 17, with the State consenting. Adds the charge details, the trial date and the bail conditions.

    accused, 40s, male, irish (judged from name)victim, late 20s, female
  30. 24 Jul2023
    Irish Celebrity Charged With Defilement Of A Minor Allowed To Travel Abroad

    The article body is an unrendered search-widget template with no case details. The only substantive content is the headline, which describes a charge and a travel permission. No existing case matches.

    accused, Irish, irish
  31. 24 Jul2023
    Man charged with defilement has bail varied on passport

    Reports a bail variation hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the return of the accused's passport from 3 to 18 August, a trial date of 9 October, and the accused's denial of all charges.

    accused, 40s, male, Irish, irishvictim, late 20s, female
  32. 24 Jul2023
    High-profile Irish celeb charged with defilement of a child gets passport back

    First report of this Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, covering a bail variation hearing that returned the accused's passport for August 3 to August 17. The article gives no single incident date, only 2010 and early 2011, and no existing case matches it.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, late 20s, female
  33. 24 Jul2023
    Broadcaster awaiting trial on child sex charge has bail terms varied to allow travel abroad

    First report of a bail variation in this case. It sets out the charges, the travel period and the passport return date, and gives the October trial date.

    accused, male
  34. 20 Apr2023
    Trial date for media personality on defilement charges

    Reports that the man appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, that the trial is set for 9 October 2023 and expected to last four or five days, and that a hearing on disclosure is set for 24 July.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, late 20s, female
  35. 20 Apr2023
    Trial date set for ‘celebrity’ charged with defilement of minor

    First report of this case in the sources. It sets a trial date of October 9th, adjourns the case to July 24th for a disclosure hearing, and records the accused's denial and the defence request for an early trial.

    victim, late 20s, femaleaccused, 40s, male
  36. 20 Apr2023
    Irish celebrity to face trial for defilement of underage girl

    Reports a trial date set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and an adjournment to July 24 for disclosure issues. Gives the charge count and the period of the alleged offences.

    accused, 40s, male, Irish, irishvictim, late 20s, female
  37. 20 Apr2023
    Trial date set for high-profile Irish celebrity charged with defilement of minor

    Trial set to begin October 9 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, expected to last four or five days; case adjourned to July 24 for a disclosure hearing; man sent forward for trial from Dublin District Court.

    accused, 40s, malevictim, late 20s, female
  38. 15 Feb2023
    Irish Celebrity In His 30s In Court On Child Sex Charges

    Article contains only a headline and website template code; no names, court, dates or other details are provided.

    accused, 30s, male, Irish, irish
  39. 14 Feb2023
    Entertainment industry figure to stand trial on child defilement charges

    Initial court appearance; DPP directed trial on indictment to Circuit Court; remanded on bail with no-contact condition; to appear in March for book of evidence and trial

    accused, 30s, malevictim, under 17
  40. 14 Feb2023
    Entertainment industry figure to stand trial accused of defilement of a child

    Initial court appearance: arrest, charge, bail remand, and DPP direction for trial on indictment.

    accused, 30s, malevictim, under 17
  41. 14 Feb2023
    Entertainer, 39, charged with defilement of child

    First report of the charging and initial court appearance. The accused is a 39-year-old entertainer and broadcaster; reporting restrictions were imposed. He was granted bail on his own bond of €500 with a no-contact condition.

    accused, 39, malevictim
  42. 14 Feb2023
    Irish Entertainment Industry Figure, 30s, Charged With Defilement Of Child

    Article body contains only website template code; details limited to the headline.

    suspect, 30s, Irish, irishvictim