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. 8732Rape and sexual assault of a child

Man jailed for 11 years over repeated sexual abuse of child

A 46-year-old man, the great-uncle by marriage of a boy aged between nine and 14, abused the boy at the man's home in the south east of the country between January 2018 and May 2023. The abuse began with inappropriate touching when the boy was about nine and later included anal rape. In February 2025 a jury at the Central Criminal Court found the man guilty of 13 counts of anal rape and 18 counts of sexually assaulting the boy. He was sentenced in March 2025 to 12 years with the final year suspended on conditions, and must be supervised by the Probation Service for three years after release.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced14 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victim is a boy who was aged between nine and 14 during the offending.
  • The abuse began with inappropriate touching when the boy was about nine and later included anal rape.
Where
The offending occurred in the man's home in the south east of the country, where the boy was being minded.
When
The offending occurred on dates between January 2018 and May 2023.
Other details
  • The man is the boy's great-uncle by marriage, and his wife, the boy's great-aunt, had minded the boy from when he was a baby.
  • The abuse occurred when the great-aunt was upstairs or in the bathroom.
  • The man told the boy not to tell anyone.
  • The man had no previous convictions and a long work history, and the defence described the conviction as a fall from grace for him.
  • The boy's mother said in a victim impact statement that the abuse tore the family apart and that the boy is very withdrawn, has flashbacks and has mixed emotions.
Investigation
The boy disclosed the abuse, saying it made him feel angry, sad and scared.
Charges
The man was found guilty of 13 counts of anal rape and 18 counts of sexually assaulting the boy.
In court
The trial took place in February 2025 at the Central Criminal Court before a jury.
Sentence
  • The judge set a sentence of 12 years and suspended the final year on a number of conditions, so the man is to serve 11 years.
  • The man is to remain under Probation Service supervision for three years after release.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe child was aged between nine and 14 at the time of the offending. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe abuse started when the child was about nine, with inappropriate touching before progressing to anal rape. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe abuse occurred when the aunt was upstairs or in the bathroom. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe man told the boy not to tell anyone. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe abuse occurred in the man's home in the south east of the country. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe offending occurred on dates between January 2018 and May 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe man was found guilty of 13 counts of anal rape and 18 counts of sexually assaulting the boy. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe trial took place in February 2025 at the Central Criminal Court. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a sentence of 12 years and suspended the final year on a number of conditions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was ordered to remain under Probation Service supervision for three years post-release. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe man was the child's great-uncle by marriage. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe child was being minded by the man's wife, the child's great-aunt, from when he was a baby. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe boy disclosed the abuse, saying it made him feel angry, sad and scared. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe man had no previous convictions and a long work history. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe child's mother said the abuse tore their family apart and her son was left with an almost grief-like feeling at the loss of his great-aunt. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe child has become very withdrawn and continues to have flashbacks and mixed emotions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe defence described the conviction as a fall from grace for the man. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 14 Mar2025
    Sentenceddublinlive.ie, first report
    Man who repeatedly raped wife's grand-nephew jailed for 11 years

    Reports the sentencing: 12 years with final year suspended, three years' Probation Service supervision post-release. Includes the victim impact statement read by the child's mother and the judge's comments on the serious breach of trust.

    victim, 9-14, maleconvicted, 46, male