Thursday 5 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. 30912Offensive conduct of a sexual nature (lewd act in public) · Co. Dublin · 16 Jun 2021

Man pleads guilty to lewd act in Marks & Spencer toilet, Dublin

Bruno da Silva, 31, a Brazilian chef living in Crumlin, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to masturbating and engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature in the men's toilets of a Marks & Spencer store on Mary Street on 16 June 2021, during which he grabbed an undercover garda's backside. Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned sentencing to September for a probation report.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Jul
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDa Silva grabbed the bottom of the plain clothes garda while still masturbating (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNo members of the public were present at the time (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDa Silva has no prior criminal convictions (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDa Silva is married, Brazilian, and has lived in Ireland for four years (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDa Silva worked mostly as a chef and was going to therapy (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDa Silva was co-operative and apologetic on arrest and made a voluntary statement admitting his actions (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDa Silva brought €200 to court (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGarda Seamus Donoghue gave evidence that plain clothes gardaí set up an operation in the toilets (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe allegations concern the teacher massaging the backs of two female children in an inappropriate and sexual way over 20 years before 2013. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe two female children were not the teacher's students. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe teacher has been a teacher for many years and was involved in coaching sports. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe allegations were made to the Gardaí in 2013. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA file was sent to the DPP who directed that there be no prosecution. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe teacher went through the Garda vetting process in 2006 and 2016 with no issue arising. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe 2013 allegations were inadvertently excluded from consideration in the 2016 vetting. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe charges were under the Sexual Offences Act (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Bryan Smyth adjourned sentencing until a date in September for a probation report (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was held to be dealt with at district court level rather than circuit court (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDa Silva was granted bail and ordered to stay away from the department store (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judicial review is brought against the Chief Bureau Officer of the National Vetting Bureau and the Garda Commissioner. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe teacher seeks declarations that the procedures did not adequately respect his ECHR or Constitutional rights to fair procedures and privacy. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtPermission to bring the challenge was granted on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Charles Meenan. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge made orders prohibiting the media from naming the applicant and granted a stay on the vetting disclosure process until the case is determined. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe matter was made returnable to a date in October. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe vetting bureau intends to make the disclosure to the Teaching Council in the coming days. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe teacher's record is described as exemplary. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe allegations and potential disclosure would have a devastating effect on the teacher. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Jul2021
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Disclosure of alleged sexual impropriety would have 'devastating effect' on teacher, court told

    First report of the High Court judicial review. Permission granted ex-parte by Mr Justice Meenan; stay on disclosure and naming order imposed; matter returnable to October 2021.

    accused, malevictim, femalevictim, female
  2. 6 Jul2021
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Man accused of lewd act in public toilet grabbed garda during incident, court hears

    Guilty plea recorded; sentencing adjourned to September for a probation report; bail granted with condition to stay away from the store.

    accused, Bruno da Silva, 31, male, Brazilian, named, non-irishBruno da Silvavictim, Seamus Donoghue, male, irish (judged from name)Seamus Donoghue