Sunday 1 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. 21933Indecent assault (three counts) · Co. Cork · 1 Jan 1982

Man sentenced for indecent assault of sister-in-law in Cork

Kenneth Reilly, 63, was sentenced in March 2023 to six years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for three counts of indecently assaulting his sister-in-law Helene Hallisey Power at his home in Co Cork between 1982 and 1985, when she was aged 12 to 16 and he was in his 20s. The abuse came to light in 2002 when Ms Hallisey Power confided in her husband and brother. A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork found Reilly guilty of all three counts following a trial in October 2022. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon backdated the sentence to when Reilly went into custody in October 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Kenneth Reilly was found guilty by a jury of three counts of indecently assaulting his sister-in-law Helene Hallisey Power.
  • The victim was aged between 12 and 16 at the time of the assaults, and Reilly was in his 20s.
  • On one occasion Reilly made the girl take off all her clothes except her knee socks and photographed her; on another he made her watch pornographic movies before masturbating him.
Where
The assaults took place at Reilly's home in Co Cork.
When
  • The assaults occurred on dates between January 1st, 1982 and December 31st, 1985.
  • The abuse came to light in 2002 when Ms Hallisey Power confided in her husband and brother.
In court
A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork returned three guilty verdicts following a trial in October 2022.
Sentence
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced Reilly to six years' imprisonment and suspended the final year on conditions, backdating the sentence to when he went into custody.
Other details
  • Reilly has no previous convictions and has been in custody since October 2022.
  • After the abuse, Reilly gave his sister-in-law £15 and agreed to avoid family events but refused to sign a contract.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKenneth Reilly was found guilty by a jury of three counts of indecently assaulting Helene Hallisey Power (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was aged between 12 and 16 at the time of the assaults (irishtimes.com)
  • whatReilly was in his 20s at the time of the assaults (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn the first occasion, Reilly gestured to the girl to go upstairs and she shook her head, then he gestured to another young girl present so she went upstairs with him to save the other child (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn another occasion, Reilly made the girl take off all her clothes except her knee socks and photographed her (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn the third occasion, he made her watch pornographic movies before masturbating him (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter abusing his sister-in-law, Reilly gave her £15 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatReilly agreed to avoid attending family events but refused to sign a contract (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe said her brother-in-law showed no remorse or acceptance of the harm he caused her or her family (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe assaults took place at Reilly's home in Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assaults occurred on dates between January 1st, 1982 and December 31st, 1985 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe abuse came to light in 2002 when Ms Hallisey Power confided in her husband and brother (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury in the Central Criminal Court in Cork handed down three guilty verdicts following a trial in October 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMs Justice Eileen Creedon handed down a sentence of six years and suspended the final year on a number of conditions (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Reilly went into custody (irishtimes.com)
  • otherReilly has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMs Hallisey Power is now aged 54 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherReilly is still married, has adult children and grandchildren who are all supportive of him (irishtimes.com)
  • otherReilly has been in custody since October 2022 and has a number of health conditions (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Mar2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘I’m speaking up for that child who could not at the time’: Abuse survivor sees brother-in-law jailed

    Reports the sentencing of Kenneth Reilly to five years' imprisonment for three counts of indecent assault on his sister-in-law, including details of the abuse, the 2002 family settlement, the 2018 gardaí investigation, and the victim impact statement.

    convicted, Kenneth Reilly, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Reillyvictim, Helene Hallisey Power, 54, female, irish (judged from name)Helene Hallisey Power