Ireland Case No. 0276Sexual assault, use of ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child · Co. Clare · 7 Jun 2023
Man sentenced for sexual assault of 13-year-old at Ennis Circuit Court
In June 2023, Ryce Clohessy, then 19, sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl on two occasions at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush, Co Clare, after grooming her via Snapchat. The girl's mother reported the matter to Kilrush Garda Station in July 2023, and Clohessy was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child. He pleaded guilty to all charges at Ennis Circuit Court in July 2026. Judge Francis Comerford sentenced him to 28 months in prison with the final six months suspended in September 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Sep
- Convicted9 Jul
- Sentenced1 Sep
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Clohessy sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl on two occasions and groomed her by sending sexual videos via Snapchat and inducing her to send explicit pictures.
- Where
- The assaults took place at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush, Co Clare; the ICT exploitation charge covers an unknown location within the State.
- When
- The assaults occurred on 7 and 8 June 2023; the ICT exploitation charge covers 19 May to 22 June 2023; the pair first met at a christening in May 2023.
- Investigation
- The girl's mother was told and they went to Kilrush Garda Station to make a complaint on 7 July 2023; Clohessy was arrested and conveyed to Kilrush Garda Station for charge.
- Charges
- Clohessy was charged with two counts of sexual assault under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act, and one count of using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child under Section 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 or Section 2 of the Child Trafficking Act and Pornography Act 1998.
- In court
- Clohessy first appeared at Kilrush District Court in September 2025, was bailed on his own bond of €100, and pleaded guilty to all charges at Ennis Circuit Court in July 2026.
- Sentence
- Judge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court imposed a 28-month prison term with the final six months suspended in September 2026, after setting a headline sentence of 40 months.
- Other details
- Clohessy was 19 at the time of the offences, had no previous convictions apart from road traffic matters, and the judge directed a victim impact statement noting the complainant was now 15.
53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a then 13-year-old girl. (clareecho.ie)
- whatAt Vandeleur Woods, Clohessy grabbed the girl's buttocks and started to kiss her. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe girl told gardaí that Clohessy told her not to tell anyone what they were doing. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe sexual assault took place at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe sexual exploitation occurred at an unknown location within the State (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe assaults took place at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at Vandeleur woodlands on the outskirts of Kilrush, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe sexual assault occurred on 7 and 8 June 2023 (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe sexual exploitation charge covers the period between 19 May and 22 June 2023 (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe sexual assault charges relate to 7 and 8 June 2023. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe two first met at a Christening in May 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe two arranged to meet at Vandeleur Woods on 7 June 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred in June 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe two met at a christening in May 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe first physical assault occurred on June 7, 2023, at Vandeleur woods. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe second assault occurred the following day at the same location. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge said Clohessy engaged in grooming by sending sexual videos of himself via Snapchat and inducing the girl to send explicit pictures. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe accused was arrested on Tuesday morning and conveyed to Kilrush Garda Station for charge (clareecho.ie)
- investigationDet Garda Conor Flaherty of the Protective Services Bureau of the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division gave evidence of the arrest (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe girl's mother was told and on 7 July 2023 the two went to Kilrush Garda Station to make a complaint. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGarda Conor Flaherty of the Clare Divisional Protective Services Unit gave evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe sexual assault charges are under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe sexual exploitation charge is under Section 2 of the Child Trafficking Act and Pornography Act 1998 (clareecho.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeHe also pleaded guilty to using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child, contrary to Section 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeClohessy pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of the girl at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeClohessy pleaded guilty to using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child between 19 May and 22 June 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeClohessy pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeClohessy pleaded guilty to using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child between May 19 and June 22, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case is to go forward to the Circuit Court and a Book of Evidence will be required (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe accused was bailed on his own bond of €100 with conditions attached (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded on bail to reappear before Kilrush District Court on 21 October 2025 (clareecho.ie)
- courtThere was no Garda objection to bail (clareecho.ie)
- courtSolicitor Patrick Moylan was granted legal aid to represent the accused (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe guilty pleas were acceptable to the DPP on a full facts basis. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe plea was entered at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe man was remanded on bail to Ennis Circuit Court on July 31 to fix a sentence date. (clareecho.ie)
- courtClohessy was sentenced to a 28-month prison term with the final six months suspended at Ennis Circuit Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Ennis Circuit Court before Judge Francis Comerford. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceOn conviction in the Circuit Court, persons face prison terms up to five years (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 40 months before reducing it to 28 months with the final six months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceClohessy was jailed for one year and 10 months. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Comerford imposed a 28-month prison term with the final six months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was 40 months before being reduced to 28 months. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused made no reply to charge after caution (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge directed a victim impact statement from the complainant. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge said sentencing should receive priority because the complainant is now 15 and was 13 at the time of the offences. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe man was aged 19 at the time of the offences in June 2023. (clareecho.ie)
- otherClohessy had no previous convictions apart from a few road traffic matters. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherDefence counsel said the conduct was an aberration and Clohessy does not have an attraction to children. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge accepted that Clohessy's name should be published. (thejournal.ie)
- otherClohessy was 19 at the time of the offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge noted that at 19 Clohessy still had immaturities and impulsiveness of youth. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Sep2026Man sentenced to 22 months in jail for ‘grooming’ and sexual assault of 13-year-old
Sentencing details at Ennis Circuit Court including the judge's comments on grooming, the victim's impact statement, and the reduction from a 40-month headline sentence to 28 months with six suspended.
victim, 13, femaleconvicted, Ryce Clohessy, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryce Clohessy - 1 Sep2026Judge jails west Clare man for sexual assault of 13-year-old he groomed via Snapchat
Reports the sentencing at Ennis Circuit Court on 19 September 2026: a 28-month sentence with the final six months suspended, a headline sentence of 40 months, and Clohessy's guilty pleas to two counts of sexual assault and one ICT grooming count. Gives the offence dates and the complaint made to gardaí in July 2023.
convicted, Ryce Clohessy, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryce Clohessyvictim, 13, female - 9 Jul202622 year old west Clare man pleads guilty to sexual assault of 13 year old girl at Vandeleur Woods on two dates in June 2023 - Clare Echo
Guilty pleas entered at Ennis Circuit Court to two counts of sexual assault and one ICT sexual exploitation charge; the sentence date is to be fixed on 31 July.
convicted, 22, malevictim, 13, female - 16 Sep2025West Clare man (22) charged with sexual assault of 13 year old girl at Vandeleur Woods - Clare Echo
First court appearance; charged with two counts of sexual assault (7–8 June 2023) and one count of sexual exploitation (May–June 2023); bailed on own bond of €100 to reappear 21 October 2025 for Book of Evidence; case to go to Circuit Court where conviction carries up to five years.
victim, 13, femaleaccused, 22, male