Ireland Man in his 20s to face trial over alleged rape of young woman in Letterkenny
A woman, her brother and a family friend were charged over alleged rape and sexual assault of a young girl, the complainant, with the alleged offences dated between 2000 and 2014 at a family home and on a family holiday. All three have addresses in the west of Ireland, cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity, and pleaded not guilty. Their trial on 21 charges began at the Central Criminal Court the week before 4 March 2025, when Ms Justice Melanie Greally discharged the jury after a development in the trial. The case was returned to the lists to have a new trial date fixed, and the matters will be heard by a different jury on a date yet to be set.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court4 Mar
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman, her brother and another man were accused of sexually assaulting and raping a young girl, the mother's daughter.
- Where
- All three accused have addresses in the west of Ireland, and the alleged offences were at a family home.
- Charges
- The mother faces 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, to which she pleaded not guilty.
- The complainant's maternal uncle, her brother, faces seven counts including rape and oral rape, and pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape between 2003 and 2012.
- A second man, described as a friend of the accused woman's then partner and as a family friend, faces one count of oral rape and pleaded not guilty to it, the offence being dated between 2008 and 2009.
- It is alleged the woman sexually assaulted the girl on nine occasions between 2000 and 2009 at the family home, once between 2012 and 2014, and three times on a family holiday in 2001.
- In court
- The three accused went on trial the week before 4 March 2025 on 21 charges and all denied all the charges.
- On 4 March 2025 Ms Justice Melanie Greally discharged the jury after a development in the trial.
- The judge said she did not take the decision lightly and that the court had a duty to ensure a fair trial.
- The case was returned to the lists at the Central Criminal Court to have a new trial date fixed.
- Investigation
- The matters will be heard by a different jury on a different date.
- Other details
- The accused cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity.
- The headline and offence details given (a man in his 20s, a young woman, Letterkenny, an incident date of 20 October 2024, strangulation) do not match the articles, which describe a young girl and three accused.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe jury in the trial of three people accused of raping a young girl was discharged. (rte.ie)
- whatThe trial of a woman, her brother and another man accused of sexually assaulting and raping her daughter collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- whereAll three accused have addresses in the west of the country. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe mother of the child faces 13 charges of sexual assault and one charge of rape. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe complainant's uncle is charged with seven counts, including rape and oral rape. (rte.ie)
- chargeA third man, a family friend, faces one count of oral rape when the child was older. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe woman pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of sexual assault and one count of rape. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeIt is alleged the woman sexually assaulted the girl on nine occasions between 2000 and 2009 at the family home, once between 2012 and 2014, and three times on a family holiday in 2001. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe brother pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one of oral rape between 2003 and 2012 at the same address. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe second man pleaded not guilty to one count of oral rape between 2008 and 2009 at the same address. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge said the jury had been discharged after a development and the matters would be heard by a different jury on a different date. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said she did not take the decision lightly and that the court had a duty to ensure a fair trial. (rte.ie)
- courtThe three accused had gone on trial the previous week on 21 charges. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said developments during the trial meant it should end and be heard by a different jury on a different date. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge said she did not end the trial lightly, given its impact on the complainant. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge said the court has a duty to ensure a fair trial and could not do so on this occasion. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge discharged the jury. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was returned to the lists at the Central Criminal Court to have a new trial date fixed. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAll three accused had denied all the charges. (rte.ie)
- otherThe accused cannot be named to protect the complainant's anonymity. (rte.ie)
- otherThe brother is the complainant's maternal uncle. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe second man was a friend of the accused woman's then partner. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Mar2025Trial of woman, her brother and another man accused of raping her daughter collapses
Trial collapsed after the judge discharged the jury, with the case returned to the lists for a new trial. The article gives the counts against each accused and that the alleged offences were at a family home in the west of Ireland.
accused, femaleaccused, maleaccused, malevictim, female - 4 Mar2025Jury discharged in trial of three people accused of rape
The jury was discharged by Ms Justice Melanie Greally after a development in the trial, which had begun the previous week on 21 charges against three accused. The matters will be heard by a different jury on a different date. All three had denied the charges. The article does not name the accused or state a county.
accusedaccusedaccused, male