Case No. 0773Sexual assault · Co. Dublin
Man jailed for seven years for sexually abusing daughter in her bedroom
A 70-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect his daughter's identity, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of eight counts of sexual assault of the girl at the family home. The abuse took place between 1994 and 1996, when the child was aged between six and eight, in her bedroom while her mother worked nights. The case came to light in 2023 after the victim unexpectedly encountered the man. Ms Justice Melanie Greally sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, noting the DPP had placed the case at the upper end of offending. The man had denied all wrongdoing when interviewed by gardai.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Jun
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 70-year-old man was convicted of eight counts of sexual assault of his daughter at the family home.
- When
- The abuse occurred on dates between 1994 and 1996, when the child was aged between six and eight and the accused was aged between 36 and 38.
- Where
- The abuse took place in the child's bedroom at the family home while her mother worked nights.
- Investigation
- The abuse came to light in 2023 after the victim unexpectedly encountered the man.
- Charges
- The man was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of eight counts of sexual assault.
- In court
- The maximum sentence for the offence was five years, and the DPP placed the case at the upper end of offending.
- Sentence
- Ms Justice Melanie Greally sentenced the man to seven years' imprisonment, setting a headline sentence of four years for each offence.
- Other details
- The man denied all wrongdoing when interviewed by gardai but later co-operated with gardai and complied with requirements made of him.
- The man has previous convictions for burglary, theft and road traffic offences, and the defence noted he had not reoffended over the past 30 years.
- The victim suffered panic attacks as a result of the abuse, and the family described walking on eggshells around the accused man.
- The man has been shunned by his family and is living an isolated existence.
28 statements extracted from the articles
- whatByrne is 33 and lives in Cabra Park, Phibsborough. (irishtimes.com)
- whatByrne has more than 120 convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn the 2013 burglary, Byrne and six others broke into a family home and terrorised a couple and their three daughters aged eight, six and two. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe murder occurred during a credit union robbery at Lordship, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on 25 January 2013. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child was aged between six and eight at the time of the abuse (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused was aged between 36 and 38 at the time (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe abuse occurred on dates between 1994 and 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe abuse came to light after the victim unexpectedly encountered the man in 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charge was conspiracy to pervert the course of justice during Brady's trial. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man was convicted of eight counts of sexual assault of his daughter (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court will hear Byrne's appeal on his perverting the course of justice conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtByrne was found guilty of the charge in 2024 at the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court will consider whether it can ever be lawful to seek to persuade a witness not to give evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady was convicted by a jury in August 2020 of the murder of Donohoe. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe maximum sentence for the offence was five years (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP placed the case at the upper end of offending (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceByrne was sentenced to two years for the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceByrne was jailed for 18 years with four suspended for an aggravated burglary in 2013 in Tipperary. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrady is serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe man was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years for each offence (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man has previous convictions for burglary, theft and road traffic offences (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man denied all wrongdoing when interviewed by gardai (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe family described walking on eggshells around the accused man (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man has been shunned by his family and is living an isolated existence (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim suffered panic attacks as a result of the abuse (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man co-operated with gardai and complied with requirements made of him (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence noted the man had not reoffended over the past 30 years (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Jun2026Man sexually abused daughter in her bedroom while her mother worked nights
Reports the sentencing of an unnamed 70-year-old man to seven years for eight counts of sexual assault of his daughter, with details of the abuse, the family's fear, the victim's impact, and the judge's reasoning.
victim, femaleconvicted, 70, male - 19 Jun2026Supreme Court to hear appeal by Dublin criminal who tried to dissuade witness in garda murder trial
The Supreme Court will hear Byrne's appeal on the legal question of whether it can ever be lawful to persuade a witness not to give evidence. The Court of Appeal, under Judge Brian O'Moore, rejected his bid in December 2025, finding Byrne used unlawful means by sending Cahill's Garda statement to a third party.
convicted, Dean Byrne, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Byrneconvicted, Aaron Brady, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, Adrian Donohoe, male, irish (judged from name)Adrian Donohoe