Friday 30 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. 16743Rape · Co. Dublin

Man sentenced over rape of younger cousin in Dublin

A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of his younger cousin, who was aged eight to nine when the offending took place between 28 April 2017 and 27 March 2018 at his home and at the grandparents' house in Co Dublin. He was 13 and 14 at the time. The case came to light in 2021 after the victim told her father she did not want the man to go on a family holiday with them, and Tusla made a referral to gardaí. The man was interviewed voluntarily at his local garda station in June 2022, made full admissions and entered an early guilty plea. On 3 July 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a three-year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, reported as 16 months, and directed that the sentence start on 26 August, once the man has finished his exams.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced3 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of his younger cousin, one of anal rape and one of oral rape.
Where
The offending took place at the boy's home and at the children's grandparents' house in Co Dublin.
When
  • The offences took place on dates between 28 April 2017 and 27 March 2018.
  • The victim was aged between eight and nine when the offending occurred, and the man was 13 and 14 at the time.
Other details
  • The case record lists the victim as a woman aged 14.
  • The offending came to light in 2021 after the victim told her father she did not want the man to go on a family holiday with them.
  • The man has no previous convictions.
Cause
The first incident occurred at the boy's home during a sleepover.
Investigation
  • The investigation started after Tusla made a referral to gardaí.
  • The man was interviewed voluntarily at his local garda station in June 2022 and made full admissions.
In court
The man entered an early guilty plea.
Sentence
  • On 3 July 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a three-year sentence with the final 20 months suspended on strict conditions, reported as 16 months.
  • The man was directed to have no unsupervised contact with children and not to be in the company of a child without another adult present.
  • The man was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim.
  • The sentence is directed to start on 26 August, once the man has finished his exams.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe offending took place at the boy's home and at the children's grandparents' house in Co Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on dates between 28 April 2017 and 27 March 2018. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe victim was aged between eight and nine when the offending occurred. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe first incident occurred at the boy's home, where he raped the victim during a sleepover. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation started after Tusla made a referral to gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe man was interviewed voluntarily at his local garda station in June 2022 and made full admissions. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to three counts of rape. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe man entered an early guilty plea. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a three-year sentence with the final 20 months suspended on strict conditions. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was directed to have no unsupervised contact with children. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the victim. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was directed to start on 26 August, once the man has finished his exams. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe offending came to light in 2021 after the victim told her father she did not want the man to go on a family holiday with them. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe man has no previous convictions. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jul2024
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man sentenced to 16 months for rape of younger cousin

    Sentencing report for a case not in the existing list. It gives the guilty plea, the offence dates (28 April 2017 to 27 March 2018), the sentence terms and the start date of the sentence.

    convicted, 20, malevictim, 14, female