Ireland Man convicted of sexual assault at Laois Shopping Centre hours after prison release
A 55-year-old man was convicted at Portlaoise District Court after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and being intoxicated in public at Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise on June 22, 2023. The woman alleged that he took her arm and kissed her hand without permission, and the offence occurred hours after his release from prison. The case was reported on June 17, 2025, with a reported sentence of three years in prison with 18 months suspended. The man was remanded on bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on October 9, 2025, when the charges would be struck out if he donated €500 to Laois Domestic Violence Support Services.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted17 Jun
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man pleaded guilty to sexual assault and being intoxicated in public, and was convicted, in relation to a woman at Laois Shopping Centre.
- The woman alleged the man took her arm and kissed her hand without permission.
- Where
- The incident took place at Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise, County Laois.
- When
- The offence took place on June 22, 2023, on the day the man was released from prison.
- Other details
- The man had just learned that his mother had died weeks earlier, and his family had not told him.
- The man was highly intoxicated and slurring his speech when gardaí arrived.
- Investigation
- Garda McNamara responded to reports of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance at the shopping centre.
- Sentence
- The man was reported to have been given three years in prison with 18 months suspended.
- In court
- The man was remanded on bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on October 9, 2025.
- The judge said the charges would be struck out if the man donated €500 to Laois Domestic Violence Support Services by October 9.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman by kissing her hand just hours after being released from prison and learning his mother had died. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA woman alleged the defendant took her arm and kissed her hand without permission. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe man pleaded guilty to sexual assault and being intoxicated in public on June 22, 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe date of the offence was the date of the man's release from prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí responded to reports of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance at Laois Shopping Centre. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe man was remanded on bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on October 9. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said the charges would be struck out if the man donated €500 to Laois Domestic Violence Support Services by that date. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe defendant was reported as given three years in prison with 18 months suspended. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe defendant was highly intoxicated and slurring his speech when gardaí arrived. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe man's family had kept from him that his mother had died weeks earlier. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jun2025Man committed sexual assault in shopping centre in Midlands hours after release from prison
First report of this case. Adds the guilty plea, the reported sentence, the adjournment to 9 October and the donation condition, and the context that the man had been released from prison that day and had just learned his mother had died.
convicted, 55, malevictim, female