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. 10308Sexual assault · Co. Sligo

Man found guilty of sexually assaulting teenager in Sligo

In April 2023 a teenage girl was sexually assaulted in Sligo after a man beckoned her and her friends into an alleyway. On 13 March 2026 a jury at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court found Ziaullhaq Safi, a 37-year-old man of Market Yard, Sligo, guilty of sexual assault and of providing remuneration to a child for sexual exploitation. Safi denies the offences, does not accept the verdict, and has been in custody since the verdict. A victim impact statement was read out on 26 March 2026, and Safi is due to be sentenced on 13 April in Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted26 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A jury found Ziaullhaq Safi guilty of sexual assault and of providing remuneration to a child for sexual exploitation.
Where
  • The sexual assault took place in Sligo.
  • The victim and her friends saw a man standing beside a gate, who beckoned them into an alleyway.
When
The offences took place in April 2023.
Investigation
Photographs and CCTV were provided as evidence, and 13 witnesses gave evidence at the trial.
In court
  • The three-week trial was held before Judge Roderick Maguire at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court.
  • Safi has been in custody since the jury verdict on 13 March 2026.
Sentence
Safi is due to be sentenced on 13 April in Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.
Other details
  • Safi denies the offences and does not accept the jury's verdict.
  • Detective Garda Kieran Higgins read out a victim impact statement on 26 March 2026.
  • The victim said the offence changed her life, causing sleep problems, flashbacks, nightmares and suicidal thoughts.
  • Safi's legal counsel cited his background as mitigation, saying he fled the Taliban and his father was killed.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA jury found Ziaullhaq Safi guilty of sexual assault and of providing remuneration to a child for sexual exploitation. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe sexual assault took place in Sligo. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe victim and her friends saw a man standing beside a gate, who beckoned them into an alleyway. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place in April 2023. (rte.ie)
  • investigationPhotographs and CCTV were provided as evidence, and 13 witnesses gave evidence at the trial. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe case was tried over three weeks before Judge Roderick Maguire at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtSafi has been in custody since the jury verdict on 13 March. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceSafi will be sentenced on 13 April in Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • otherSafi denies the offences and does not accept the jury's verdict. (rte.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement was read out by Detective Garda Kieran Higgins. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim said the offence had changed her life, causing sleep problems, flashbacks, nightmares and suicidal thoughts. (rte.ie)
  • otherSafi's legal counsel cited his background as mitigation, saying he fled the Taliban and his father was killed. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Mar2026
    Convictedrte.ie, first report
    Court hears man stole teenager's innocence in assault

    Jury verdict reported with victim impact statement; sentencing set for 13 April in Mullingar. No matching existing case.

    convicted, Ziaullhaq Safi, 37, male, namedZiaullhaq Safivictim, female