Wednesday 28 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. 2326Sexual assault, indecent assault, oral rape · Co. Dublin · 1 Jan 1987

Man jailed for five and a half years for sexual abuse of younger sister in Dublin

A 53-year-old Dublin man was sentenced to six years and six months' imprisonment (12 months suspended) at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to nine sample counts of sexual abuse of his younger sister, who was around seven when the abuse began in January 1987 and continued until August 1991.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim was about seven years old when the abuse began. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man forced the girl to perform oral sex and to touch him inappropriately. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe abuse in the field took place at least 50 times. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe abuse ended after the girl started secondary school. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was around seven years old when the abuse began and the man was 15. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe abuse took place in the man's bedroom, at a laneway, and in a Dublin field. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe abuse took place in the man's bedroom in their family home, at a laneway, and in a field in Co. Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe sexual abuse took place between January 1987 and August 1991. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe sexual abuse occurred on dates between January 1987 and August 1991. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe victim went to a Garda station in 1995 when she was about 15 and gave some details. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe victim made a formal complaint to gardaí in 2018. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man met Gardaí voluntarily for interview and denied the allegations. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe girl went to a local Garda station in 1995 when she was about 15 and gave some details, and social services were notified. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to nine sample counts including indecent assault and two counts of oral rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to nine sample counts including indecent assault and two of oral rape. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtAn initial trial date in 2023 could not go ahead. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA second trial date in October 2024 did not proceed as the man was admitted to hospital due to self-harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man entered guilty pleas shortly after the October 2024 trial date was adjourned. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAn initial trial date in 2023 could not go ahead and a second trial date in October 2024 also did not proceed due to the man's hospital admission for self-harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a sentence of six years and six months, with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to October 2024 when the man went into custody. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was sentenced to six years and six months with the final 12 months suspended for two years on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a global headline sentence of 12 years for an adult, reduced to nine years to reflect the man's youth at the time of offending. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is 53 years old and cannot be named to protect the victim's anonymity. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDefence senior counsel Tony McGillicuddy said his client wished to apologise to the victim and the court. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man has four previous minor, unrelated convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim estimates the abuse took place in the field at least 50 times. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man told Gardaí he had been a victim of sexual abuse when he was younger. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man has a history of alcohol and cannabis use but now abstains from alcohol and has reduced his cannabis use. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man has a longstanding history of mental health issues including depression, suicidal ideation and incidents of self-harm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man can't be named to protect the victim's anonymity. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Feb2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man who “destroyed” sister’s childhood with sex abuse over 4-year period jailed

    Reports the sentencing of an unnamed 53-year-old man for the sexual abuse of his sister over a four-year period, including the victim impact statement, defence submissions, and the judge's reasoning.

    victim, femaleconvicted, 53, male, irish (judged from name)
  2. 14 Feb2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man jailed for 5½ years for sexually abusing younger sister

    Sentencing details including the judge's remarks on sibling abuse, the victim's impact statement, and the procedural history (failed trial dates in 2023 and October 2024, guilty pleas entered after the man was hospitalised for self-harm).

    victim, femaleconvicted, 53, male