Ireland Man jailed for over nine years over cruelty to his six children
A 35-year-old man from Dublin subjected his six children to cruelty between 2016 and 2020, including repeatedly locking one of them in a chest freezer and attempting to suffocate the oldest boy. The children were taken into care in January 2020. The man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of child cruelty, and three sexual assault counts against the oldest girl and two boys were withdrawn. He was sentenced to a global term of nine years and two months, as reported by TheJournal.ie on 1 March 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The man subjected his six children to cruelty, including repeatedly locking one of them in a chest freezer.
- The man attempted to suffocate the oldest boy and often held his head underwater in the bath.
- The court heard there was often no food, or not enough food, for the children.
- Where
- The man is from Dublin.
- When
- The offences took place on dates between 2016 and 2020.
- The children were taken into care in January 2020.
- Investigation
- The man has since undergone drug treatment.
- Charges
- The man pleaded guilty to six counts of child cruelty.
- Three counts of sexually assaulting the oldest girl and two boys were withdrawn at the sentencing hearing.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the guilty pleas followed a defence proposal accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Sentence
- The man was handed a global sentence of nine years and two months.
- Other details
- Alcohol and drug-taking by both parents took place in the home.
- The judge described the repeated offending over an extended period, the breach of parental trust, and the children's ages and dependency as aggravating features.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man subjected his six children to cruelty that included repeatedly locking one of them in a chest freezer. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe man attempted to suffocate the oldest boy and often held his head underwater in the bath. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe man is from Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on dates between 2016 and 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe children were taken into care in January 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe man has since undergone drug treatment. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to six counts of child cruelty. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThree counts of sexually assaulting the oldest girl and two boys were withdrawn at the sentencing hearing. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe man entered guilty pleas after a defence proposal was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe man was handed a global sentence of nine years and two months. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAlcohol and drug-taking by both parents took place in the home. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge described the repeated nature of the offending over an extended period, the breach of parental trust, the children's ages and dependency as aggravating features. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe man has 20 previous convictions, primarily for minor public order offences. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Mar2026Man (35) who subjected his six children to 'terrible cruelty' jailed for over nine years
Reports the sentencing hearing: a global sentence of nine years and two months, the guilty plea to six child cruelty counts, the DPP's nolle prosequi on three sexual assault counts, and victim impact statements from the children.
victimconvicted, 35, male