Thursday 29 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. 6778Sexual assault and false imprisonment · Co. Dublin

Man sentenced over sexual assault and false imprisonment of boy in Dublin

Eric Thomas (49), of no fixed abode, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sexual assault and false imprisonment of a boy aged 14 or 15. The offence took place on an unknown date between January 2004 and July 2006 at an address on Parnell Street, Dublin 1, where Thomas had lured the boy into a back office and locked the door. Thomas has 34 previous convictions, and Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him on Friday 4 April 2025 to five years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years under Probation Services supervision.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced4 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Eric Thomas, 49, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of sexual assault and false imprisonment.
  • The victim was a boy aged 14 or 15 at the time of the offence.
  • Thomas worked at a chipper and a laundrette and was friendly with the boy's father.
  • Thomas invited the boy into a laundrette on Parnell Street, took him into a back office and locked the door.
Where
The offence took place at an address on Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
When
The offence occurred on an unknown date between January 2004 and July 2006.
Other details
  • Aggravating factors included that Thomas deliberately lured a child, force was used to remove the boy's clothing, the impact on the victim, and Thomas's previous convictions.
  • Thomas has 34 previous convictions, including ten for sexual assault and four for defilement of young boys, and was previously sentenced to a combined 19 years.
  • Thomas slept rough near Dublin Airport after being released from prison late last year until he went into custody on this matter.
  • Thomas is now an enhanced prisoner who works in the prison kitchen.
In court
  • Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as a gross violation of the body of a child and the violation of his childhood innocence.
  • The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with Detective Garda Lynsey Hennelly giving evidence for the prosecution, represented by Brian Storan BL.
  • David Perry BL represented the defence.
Sentence
  • Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Thomas on Friday 4 April 2025 to five years in prison.
  • The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for two years with Probation Services supervision.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatEric Thomas, 49, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of sexual assault and false imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was a 14 or 15-year-old boy at the time of the offence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe judge described the assault as a gross violation of the body of a child and the violation of his childhood innocence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAggravating factors included that Thomas deliberately lured a child, force was used to remove his clothing, the impact on the injured party, and previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThomas worked at a chipper and a laundrette and became friendly with the boy's father. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThomas invited the boy into a laundrette on Parnell Street, brought him into a back office, and locked the door. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThomas had a smile on his face during the sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim said he was a happy class clown at 14 and 15 before the assault changed everything. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim told Thomas in court that whatever pain he goes through will not be half what the victim has gone through. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at an address on Parnell Street, Dublin 1. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offence occurred on an unknown date between January 2004 and July 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDetective Garda Lynsey Hennelly gave evidence for the prosecution, represented by Brian Storan, BL. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDavid Perry, BL, represented the defence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe sentenced Thomas to five years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for two years with Probation Services supervision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThomas has 34 previous convictions, including ten for sexual assault and four for defilement of young boys. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThomas was previously sentenced to a combined 19 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThomas was sleeping rough near Dublin Airport after being released from prison late last year until he went into custody on this matter. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThomas is now an enhanced prisoner who works in the prison kitchen. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Apr2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    'You don’t scare me' - Powerful scenes in court as man stares down abuser

    Sentencing report. Judge Orla Crowe described the assault as 'a gross violation of the body of a child and the violation of his childhood innocence.' The victim, now an adult, read a victim impact statement in court and told Thomas 'you don't scare me anymore.' Thomas has 34 previous convictions including ten for sexual assault and four for defilement of young boys, and had previously served a combined 19 years.

    victim, 14-15, maleconvicted, Eric Thomas, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eric Thomas