Sunday 1 November 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. 2913Rape, sexual assault · Co. Cork

Man jailed for rape of wife and daughters in Cork

A 45-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the anonymity of his victims, was sentenced to 17 years in jail at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork for the rape and sexual assault of his wife and two daughters at their family home in Co Cork. The abuse occurred on various dates between 2004 and 2019, beginning before the man married and continuing until the elder daughter was aged 16, with the younger daughter raped from the age of nine until she was 11. The man was first arrested in November 2020 and again in September 2023, and pleaded guilty to 26 sample counts from 185 counts on the indictment in February and October 2024. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to 18 and a half years with the final 18 months suspended, backdated to February 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Nov
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 45-year-old man was sentenced to 17 years in jail for the rape and sexual assault of his wife and two daughters.
  • The abuse occurred on various dates between 2004 and 2019, starting before the man married and continuing until the elder daughter was aged 16.
  • The wife was first raped in a hotel room following a wedding reception, and the younger daughter was raped from the age of nine until she was 11 shortly after her First Holy Communion.
  • The man was charged with 185 counts of rape and sexual assault and pleaded guilty to 26 sample counts on a full facts basis.
Where
The offences occurred at the family home in Co Cork, with the older daughter abused in her own bedroom and her parents' bedroom.
When
The abuse of the mother and eldest daughter was reported to gardaí in April 2020.
Investigation
  • The man was first arrested in November 2020 and again in September 2023, and the case was investigated by Det Sgt Elaine Scannell and Det Brian Morris of the Cork County Garda Protective Services unit.
  • Forensic tests showed vibrators seized from the man's home contained the DNA of his wife, and bed clothes contained the DNA of his older daughter.
Charges
The man pleaded guilty in February 2024 to the abuse of his wife and older daughter, and in October 2024 to the abuse of the younger daughter.
In court
The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, with Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring presiding over the sentencing.
Sentence
The judge sentenced the man to 18 and a half years with the final 18 months suspended on condition he remain under the direction of Probation of Probation Services, backdated to February 2024.
Other details
The man, who is without previous convictions, denied the offences when arrested and suggested he might have sleepwalked into bedrooms.
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 45-year-old man was jailed for 17 years for the rape and sexual assault of his wife and two daughters. (rte.ie)
  • whatIn the case of the older daughter, the abuse involved rape with an object. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe younger daughter was raped from the age of nine until she was 11, shortly after her First Holy Communion. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man was charged with 185 counts of rape and sexual assault (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe other daughter was raped from the age of nine until she was 11 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe use of a vibrator to rape his wife and daughters made the offences more degrading (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe abuse of the older daughter occurred in her own bedroom and in her parents' bedroom. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at the family home in Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe man was still living in what was once his marital home when the abuse was reported (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe wife was first raped in a hotel room following a wedding reception (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe abuse started before the man married and continued until the elder daughter was aged 16. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe crimes occurred on various dates between 2004 and 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe abuse of the mother and eldest daughter was reported to gardaí in April 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man was first arrested in November 2020 by Detective Sergeant Elaine Scannell. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested again in September 2023 by Detective Garda Brian Morris about the abuse of the younger daughter. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí received complaints from the victims in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDet Sgt Elaine Scannell and Det Brian Morris of the Cork County Garda Protective Services unit investigated the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized vibrators from the man's home. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationForensic tests showed the vibrators contained the DNA of his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationBed clothes contained the DNA of his older daughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHe was interviewed on five occasions and denied raping his eldest daughter (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe case was investigated by Det Sgt Elaine Scannell and Det Brian Morris of the Garda Protective Services Unit in Co Cork (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty in February of this year to the abuse of his wife and older daughter. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty last month to the abuse of the younger daughter. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHis plea covered a sample of the 185 counts of rape and sexual assault on the indictment, offered on a full facts basis. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to 26 sample counts from 185 counts on the indictment. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Mary Ellen Ring presided over the sentencing. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to sample counts at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe was listed to go on trial in relation to the rape of his second daughter the previous month (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty at the latest opportunity he could (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge sentenced the man to a total of 17 years in jail. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said there was no indication the man appreciated the harm his abuse had caused. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was jailed for 17 years for the repeated rape of his wife and two young daughters. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe last 18 months were suspended on condition he remain under the direction of Probation Services upon release. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentences were backdated to February 2024 when the man first went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was jailed for 18 and a half years with the final 18 months suspended (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was directed to follow all conditions set by the probation and welfare service following release (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man denied the offences when he was arrested in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe suggested he might have sleepwalked into bedrooms (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe threatened to kill himself after she confronted him about the first rape (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is without previous convictions (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Nov2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man jailed for 17 years for 'devastating' rape of wife and two daughters

    Full sentencing details including the judge's remarks, victim impact statements, the 185-count charge, the 15-year period of abuse, and the 18.5-year sentence with 18 months suspended.

    convicted, 45, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female
  2. 18 Nov2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man (45) jailed for repeated rape of wife and two young daughters over 15-year period

    Sentencing report: 18.5-year term with 18 months suspended for repeated rape of wife and two daughters over 15 years; forensic evidence included DNA on vibrators and bed clothes; sentences backdated to February 2024.

    convicted, 45, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female
  3. 18 Nov2024
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man jailed for 17 years for rape of wife and daughters

    Reports the sentencing of the man to 17 years in jail, the court's comments, and the guilty pleas and arrest dates.

    convicted, 45, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female