Saturday 31 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. 19810Sexual assault · Co. Laois · 9 Feb 2023

Man jailed for sexual assault on teenager in Laois

On 9 February 2023, Hassan Salem, a 31-year-old man, approached a young woman at Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise at around 5pm, offered to tie her shoes, and followed her onto a bus, where he sat blocking her path and touched her leg. The victim was a stranger to him and was just over 18. Salem, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting her on the bus, and in September 2023 the court jailed him for four months and fixed recognisance in case of appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The man followed the woman onto a bus, sat down blocking her path, rubbed his leg against her leg and rubbed his right hand on her left thigh.
Where
The man first approached the woman in Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise.
When
The incident took place on 9 February 2023 at around 5pm.
Cause
The man said the woman's shoes were untied and offered to tie them, and she told him she was fine.
Other details
  • The victim was a complete stranger to the accused.
  • The reports describe the victim as a teenage girl, and she was just over 18 when the incident occurred.
  • Hassan Salem, 31, has an address at the refugee hostel in Abbeyleix, and the sources give no nationality for him.
  • The accused had no previous convictions.
  • No reporting restrictions apply to the accused.
Charges
Hassan Salem was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl on a bus.
In court
  • The accused entered a guilty plea.
  • The judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal.
Sentence
The judge jailed the man for four months.
Investigation
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby described the events in court.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man followed the girl onto a bus and sat down blocking her path. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man rubbed his leg against the girl's leg. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe man rubbed his right hand on the girl's left thigh. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe man approached the teenager in Laois Shopping Centre in Portlaoise at around 5pm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place on 9 February 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe man said the girl's shoes were untied and offered to tie them, and she said she was fine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeHassan Salem admitted sexually assaulting a teenage girl on a bus. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused entered a guilty plea. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge jailed the man for four months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim was a complete stranger to the accused. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim was just barely over 18 when the incident occurred. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherNo reporting restrictions apply to the accused. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Sep2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Jail for sexual assault on teenager in Laois

    Reports the sentencing of Hassan Salem: four months' imprisonment, guilty plea, and the court's account of the bus assault, including the victim being a stranger and just over 18.

    convicted, Hassan Salem, 31, male, namedHassan Salemvictim, just over 18, female