Ireland Case No. 21127Rape · Co. Dublin
Man jailed for life for raping his daughters, sisters and niece
Richard O'Brien, a 61-year-old man, was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five women: his two sisters, his niece and his two daughters. The offences are dated between 1975 and 2011 and took place at the family home on O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin. O'Brien denied all the offences, and the jury's verdict was unanimous after a trial earlier in 2023. On 15 May 2023 at the Central Criminal Court he was given a life sentence for the rapes of his daughters, with concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offending, running from the date he went into custody in March.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Richard O'Brien was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five victims.
- The abuse of his sisters and niece continued until each of the three women ran away as teenagers.
- O'Brien sexually abused and raped his two daughters until they were taken into care.
- Where
- The offences against his sisters and niece took place at the family home on O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin.
- When
- The offences took place on dates between 1975 and 2011.
- Investigation
- One of the daughters told her foster mother about the abuse, and gardaí were alerted.
- In court
- O'Brien denied all the offences but was convicted unanimously by a jury following a trial.
- The five victims waived their right to anonymity so that O'Brien could be named.
- The judge said O'Brien had shown no remorse and no acceptance of his offending.
- Sentence
- The judge imposed a life sentence for the rape offences against his two daughters.
- The judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offending.
- The sentences run from the date O'Brien went into custody in March.
- Other details
- The sisters said O'Brien wrung the necks of a puppy and a kitten belonging to them during their childhood.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRichard O’Brien was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five victims. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe abuse of his sisters and niece continued until each of the three women ran away as teenagers. (thejournal.ie)
- whatO’Brien went on to sexually abuse and rape his own two daughters until they were taken into care. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe abuse of his two sisters and niece occurred at the family home at O’Moore Road, Ballyfermot. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on dates between 1975 and 2011. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationOne of the daughters told her foster mother about the abuse, and gardaí were alerted. (thejournal.ie)
- courtO’Brien denied all the offences but was convicted unanimously by a jury following a trial. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe five victims waived their right to anonymity so that O’Brien could be named. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge said O’Brien had shown no remorse and no acceptance of his offending. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a life sentence for the rape offences against his two daughters. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offending. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences run from the date O’Brien went into custody in March. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe sisters said O’Brien wrung the necks of a puppy and a kitten belonging to them during their childhood. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 15 May2023Man who raped his daughters, sisters and niece is jailed for life
Reports the jury verdict, the sentence and the judge's remarks at sentencing; the article does not describe any earlier stage of the case.
convicted, Richard O'Brien, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard O'Brienvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female