Thursday 29 October 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. 7319Defilement of a child · Co. Dublin

Man acquitted of sexual offences against a child in Dublin trial

An Irish man, aged 27 at the time, was accused of three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was tried at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 18 October 2023 the defence made its closing speech and the judge began directing the jury, and on 20 October 2023 the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts after an eight-day trial and just under six hours of deliberation. The man, now 40, was acquitted, so no sentence was imposed.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Acquitted20 Oct
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The complainant was 16 at the time of the alleged offences, and the man was 27.
Other details
Reports differ on the complainant's age, with one version giving her age as 29.
Where
The alleged offences are alleged to have taken place at locations in Dublin.
When
The alleged offences took place on dates between August and December 2010.
Charges
The man pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17.
Investigation
Details of a phone seizure in 2021 were reported in the coverage of the trial.
In court
  • The case was tried at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court over an eight-day trial.
  • On 18 October 2023 the defence made its closing speech, arguing that nothing sexual happened before the complainant's 17th birthday.
  • On 18 October 2023 the judge began her direction to the jury, with deliberations expected to begin the following day.
  • The complainant was not present when the verdicts were returned.
  • The judge said a majority verdict of at least 10 jurors would be accepted.
  • The jury deliberated for just under six hours before returning its verdicts.
Sentence
On 20 October 2023 the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts, so no sentence was imposed.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe complainant was 16 at the time, and the man was 27. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe complainant was a 16-year-old girl at the time of the alleged offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man was aged 27 at the time of the alleged offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offences are alleged to have taken place at locations in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between August and December 2010. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place between August and December 2010. (irishmirror.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)
  • chargeThe man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Oct2023
    Acquittedirishmirror.ie, first report
    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
  2. 20 Oct2023
    Acquittedirishtimes.com, first report
    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
  3. 18 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    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
  4. 18 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    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