Ireland Man sentenced for 1970s rape of sisters, anonymity granted
A 68-year-old man from Donegal was sentenced to seven years for three counts of rape and one attempted rape, with a two-year concurrent term for indecent assaults, after being convicted at the Central Criminal Court of 16 offences committed between October 1971 and November 1973. He sexually abused his two younger sisters, aged 13 and 11, after the family moved to Dublin. The younger sister first reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2002 after learning he had been arrested for production of child pornographic material, and both sisters went to Gardaí again in 2019. The man pleaded not guilty to all charges and does not accept the jury verdicts. Judge Eileen Creedon also granted him anonymity under the May 2025 Supreme Court ruling in DPP vs Doe, finding he was a child at the time of the offending.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced6 Jul
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The man, aged 68 and from Donegal, was convicted of 16 offences including three counts of rape, one attempted rape, and 10 indecent assaults of his two younger sisters.
- The two victims were aged 13 and 11 when the abuse began, and the man was aged between 14 and 16.
- Where
- The abuse took place in Dublin after the family moved there.
- When
- The offending occurred on various dates between October 1971 and November 1973.
- Investigation
- The younger sister first went to Gardaí in 2002 after learning he had been arrested for production of child pornographic material, and both sisters went to Gardaí again in 2019.
- In court
- He was convicted after a trial at the Central Criminal Court, having pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- The defence relied on the May 2025 Supreme Court ruling in DPP vs Doe, and Judge Eileen Creedon granted the man anonymity.
- Sentence
- Judge Creedon imposed a seven-year sentence for the rape and attempted rape offences and a two-year concurrent term for the sexual assault offences, with the final year of the seven-year term suspended on strict conditions.
- Other details
- The man does not accept the jury verdicts and had not expressed remorse.
- The children had a difficult childhood and were in and out of care due to their parents' personal circumstances.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man is 68 years old and from Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe two victims were aged 13 and 11 when the man began abusing them (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man was aged between 14 and 16 when the offending began (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man pleaded not guilty to all charges and does not accept the jury verdicts (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatIn the mid-1990s the man told the sisters he was sorry and asked them to forgive him (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man issued threats about what would happen to the younger sister if she told anyone (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe children had a difficult childhood and were in and out of care due to their parents' personal circumstances (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused would creep into the bedroom shared by his three sisters and sexually assault the older victim (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe molestation escalated to rape (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe began abusing the other sister when she was aged 11 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn 2004 he was jailed for two years for producing child pornography (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe two victims were aged 13 and 11 when the abuse began. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant was aged between 14 and 16 when the offending began. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn the mid-1990s the man told the two sisters he was sorry and asked them to forgive him. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse began after the family moved to Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe younger sister first went to Gardaí in 2002 after learning he was arrested for production of child pornographic material (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe younger victim and her sister went to Gardaí in 2019 (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on various dates between October 1971 and November 1973. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe younger sister first went to gardaí in 2002 after learning he had been arrested for production of child pornographic material. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was convicted of three counts of rape, eight counts of indecent assault of one sister, and attempted rape and indecent assault of the younger sister (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man was convicted of 16 offences including three of rape, one attempted rape, and 10 indecent assaults. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court judge ordered the man cannot be named because he was a minor at the time of the offending (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth complainants wish to waive their anonymity (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe High Court granted anonymity because the man was a minor at the time of the offending. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence relied on the May 2025 Supreme Court ruling in DPP vs Doe. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of seven years for the rape offences and attempted rape (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a two-year concurrent term for the sexual assault offences (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final year of the seven-year term was suspended on strict conditions (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA two-year concurrent term was imposed for the sexual assault offences. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jul2026Man who raped sisters cannot be named due to being a minor at time, High Court rules
Reports the High Court ruling granting anonymity to the convicted man, details of the sentencing by Judge Eileen Creedon, and the background of the case including the 2002 and 2019 reports to gardaí.
convicted, 60s, malevictim, 13, femalevictim, 11, female - 6 Jul2026'Wicked' man who sexually abused his sisters in the 1970s can't be named
Provides full sentencing details (seven years for rape/attempted rape, two-year concurrent for sexual assault, final year suspended), the High Court anonymity order reasoning under DPP vs Doe, victim impact statements, background on the family's difficult childhood in care homes, and the 2004 child pornography conviction.
convicted, 68, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, female, irish (judged from name)