Ireland Man in his 80s jailed over sexual act with woman with dementia in Longford
Between 1 December 2019 and 26 March 2020, Brendan Rogan, then 77 and now 82, of the Demesne, Longford, had sexual intercourse with a 55-year-old woman who had frontotemporal dementia and was not in a fit state to consent, the court heard. On 26 March 2020 the victim's husband found her partially clothed with Rogan in their bedroom and called gardaí, who interviewed Rogan. Rogan pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to a sexual act with a protected person on the grounds of recklessness. At sentencing on 28 January 2025, Judge Kenneth Connolly imposed a term that reports describe as two years in custody, while the sentencing report states four years with the final two suspended; reports up to 7 February 2025 carry that account.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Jan
4 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brendan Rogan, 82, of the Demesne, Longford, was sentenced for a sexual act with a protected person.
- Other details
- The victim is a 55-year-old woman who was diagnosed in her early 50s with frontotemporal dementia.
- Evidence was heard that the victim was incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse, and Rogan wrote a letter of apology to the victim's family.
- When
- The offending took place on dates between 1 December 2019 and 26 March 2020, when Rogan was 77.
- The victim's husband contacted gardaí at about 10am on 26 March 2020 after finding his wife with Rogan.
- Where
- The incident took place in the couple's marital bedroom at their home in Longford.
- Cause
- Rogan had been taking the victim for afternoon drives for a period before the incident.
- Investigation
- Gardaí responded to the husband's call and interviewed Rogan, who told them he was not aware of the victim's condition.
- Charges
- Rogan pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court on the grounds of recklessness.
- In court
- Judge Kenneth Connolly said the offending was exceptionally serious, not an isolated incident, and too serious to avoid a custodial element; Rogan had no previous convictions.
- Sentence
- Sources disagree: RTE and the Longford Leader lede say Rogan was jailed for two years, while the Longford Leader body and the sentencing report say he was sentenced to four years with the final two years suspended.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRogan was jailed for two years. (rte.ie)
- whatBrendan Rogan pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to a sexual act with a protected person on the grounds of recklessness. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe victim had been diagnosed in her early 50s with frontotemporal dementia. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe victim's husband found her in their bedroom with Rogan. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatBrendan Rogan pleaded guilty to a sexual act with a protected person on the grounds of recklessness. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereRogan lives in the Demesne, Longford. (rte.ie)
- whereThe husband found the victim with Rogan in their bedroom. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe offending took place on dates between 1 December 2019 and 26 March 2020. (rte.ie)
- whenThe victim's husband contacted gardaí on 26 March 2020 after finding his wife with Rogan. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe victim's husband contacted Gardaí on March 26, 2020. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe victim's husband contacted Gardaí on 26 March 2020. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeRogan had been taking the victim for afternoon drives for a period of time. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí responded to a call from the victim's husband. (rte.ie)
- investigationRogan told gardaí he was not aware of the victim's condition. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe victim's husband contacted officers, who subsequently interviewed Rogan. (longfordleader.ie)
- chargeRogan pleaded guilty to a sexual act with a protected person on the grounds of recklessness. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Longford Circuit Court. (rte.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtRogan had no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Kenneth Connolly described the offending as exceptionally serious and said the crime was too heinous to avoid a custodial element. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtRogan pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court to a sexual act with a protected person on the grounds of recklessness. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceRogan was sentenced to four years in prison. (rte.ie)
- sentenceOnly the final two years of the sentence were suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Connolly sentenced Rogan to four years in prison, suspending the final two years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe article's lede says Rogan was jailed for two years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceJudge Connolly sentenced Rogan to four years in prison and suspended the final two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim had been diagnosed at an early age with frontotemporal dementia. (rte.ie)
- otherRogan came before the court with no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherRogan wrote a letter of apology to the victim's family. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe victim had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherEvidence was heard that the victim was incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge said the offence was not an isolated incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Feb2025‘A crime of utter repulsion’: Man in his 80s in the Midlands who had sex with dementia sufferer jailed
Sentencing report. The opening line says he was jailed for two years, but the later text says four years with the final two suspended; the later text is used here. The victim is unnamed.
convicted, Brendan Rogan, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Roganvictim, female - 6 Feb2025‘A crime of utter repulsion’: Longford man (82) who had sex with dementia sufferer jailed
Sentencing report adds the outcome: four years with the final two suspended, no previous convictions, the judge's remarks, and the court's account of the offence and the victim's family statements.
convicted, Brendan Rogan, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Roganvictim, female - 29 Jan2025Longford man (82) who had sex with dementia sufferer jailed for 'utterly despicable breach' of trust
Adds the sentencing hearing: a four-year sentence with the final two years suspended, the judge's remarks, the victim's diagnosis, the family's impact statement and Rogan's apology letter. The headline and lede say he was jailed for two years, which conflicts with the four-year sentence in the body.
convicted, Brendan Rogan, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Roganvictim, female - 28 Jan2025Man jailed for sexual act with vulnerable woman
Reports the sentencing hearing: a four-year sentence with the final two years suspended, so two years in custody. Adds the judge's comments, the victim impact statement, and Rogan's letter of apology.
convicted, Brendan Rogan, 82, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Roganvictim, 55, female