Thursday 29 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. 11043Unlawfully ending the life of a foetus; assault causing harm · Co. Donegal · 14 Feb 2020

Man pleads guilty over forced abortion of former partner, Donegal

On 14 February 2020, a man in his 20s forced his former partner, a woman in her 20s, to take five misoprostol 200mg tablets at a residential property in Donegal, and she was then locked in a bedroom before escaping. In November 2025 the man pleaded guilty to unlawfully ending the life of a foetus and to assault causing harm. On 11 February 2026 the case was heard before Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where the woman gave a victim impact statement. Sentence had not been passed at the latest report, and the judge is due to pass it at a later date, reported as the following week.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted11 Feb
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Other details
  • The man, in his 20s, was the former partner of the woman, who is in her 20s.
  • The case is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the State.
What happened
  • The man threatened that he would force an abortion on the woman with violence.
  • After she took the tablets, the woman was locked in a bedroom, and she later escaped.
Where
The incident took place at a residential property in Donegal.
When
The incident took place on 14 February 2020, Valentine's Day.
Cause
The man forced the woman to take five misoprostol 200mg tablets to procure an abortion.
Investigation
Gardaí interviewed the man four times, and he made no admissions.
Charges
  • In November 2025 the man pleaded guilty to unlawfully ending the life of a foetus under section 23.2 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
  • The man also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the woman under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
In court
  • Charges of making threats to kill or cause serious harm and false imprisonment were taken into consideration by the court.
  • On 11 February 2026 the case was heard before Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where the woman gave a victim impact statement.
Sentence
  • The maximum penalty for the unlawful ending charge is 14 years' imprisonment.
  • Sentence has not yet been passed, and the judge will pass it at a later date, reported as the following week.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man made threats that he would force an abortion with violence. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe woman was locked in a bedroom after taking the tablets but later escaped. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at a residential property in Donegal. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on Valentine's Day 2020. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeThe man forced the woman to take five misoprostol 200mg tablets to procure an abortion. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe man was interviewed four times by gardaí and made no admissions. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeIn November 2025 the man pleaded guilty to unlawfully ending the life of a foetus under section 23.2 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe man also pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman and causing her harm under section three of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard before Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtCharges of making threats to kill or cause serious harm and false imprisonment were taken into consideration by the court. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe maximum penalty for the charge is 14 years' imprisonment. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge will pass sentence at a later date. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Feb2026
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, first report
    'He took my child': Woman tells court of forced abortion ordeal in Donegal

    Reports the guilty pleas entered in November 2025, the court hearing on 11 February 2026, the victim impact statement and the accused's letter. Sentence not yet passed.

    convicted, 20s, malevictim, 20s, female