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. 18570Sexual assault · Co. Louth

Man jailed for sexually assaulting two children in Louth

A 67-year-old grandfather sexually assaulted two young children, a boy and a girl who are first cousins, in County Louth in 2017. The girl was six, and the assault happened at a family gathering at his home between 1 January and 1 July 2017. A jury convicted the man in July 2023 of five offences, including two counts of sexually exploiting a child, and he does not accept the verdict. On 19 January 2024 he was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court to concurrent sentences of five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended, and must enter a good behaviour bond and be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 67-year-old grandfather sexually assaulted two young children in County Louth.
  • The two children are first cousins, a boy and a girl, and the man was part of their extended family.
  • The man sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl at a family gathering at his home in June 2017.
Where
Abuse of the boy occurred at the boy's home when he was six or seven years old.
When
The offending occurred between 1 January and 1 July 2017.
Investigation
The garda investigation began after the boy's paternal grandmother contacted Tusla following a conversation with the child about abuse.
Charges
A jury convicted the man in July 2023, after a seven-day trial, of five offences including two counts of sexually exploiting a child.
In court
  • The judge said the girl was assaulted brazenly while other children were present.
  • The judge said the man had taken advantage of the children's trust and vulnerability.
Sentence
  • The man was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court to concurrent sentences of five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended.
  • One report gives the sentence as four and a half years in custody, which matches five and a half years with the final 12 months suspended.
  • The man must enter a good behaviour bond and be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release.
Other details
The man does not accept the jury's verdict.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA grandfather sexually assaulted two young children in County Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl at a family gathering at his home in June 2017. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe defendant was jailed at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereAbuse of the boy occurred at the boy's home when he was six or seven years old. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe offending occurred between 1 January and 1 July 2017. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe garda investigation began after the boy's paternal grandmother contacted Tusla following a conversation with the child about abuse. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeA jury convicted the defendant last July of five offences, including two counts of sexually exploiting a child. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the girl's assault was brazenly carried out while other children were present. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the defendant had taken advantage of the children's trust and vulnerability. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant received concurrent sentences of five and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant must enter a good behaviour bond and be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant does not accept the jury's verdict. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jan2024
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Jailed for sexually assaulting two children in Louth

    Reports the sentence: concurrent sentences of five and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, a good behaviour bond and two years' Probation Service supervision after release. Gives the 2017 offending period and details of the investigation and the judge's remarks.

    convicted, 67, malevictim, malevictim, 6, female