Wednesday 28 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. 1240Sexual assault · Co. Wicklow · 10 Nov 2023

Man sentenced to four years for sexually assaulting estranged wife in bed with children in Wicklow

A 47-year-old man sexually assaulted his estranged wife on two occasions while she was sleeping in bed with their two young children at their family home in Wicklow, the first in March 2023 and the second on 10 November 2023. The man, a father of two who cannot be identified to protect the identity of his victims, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. In July 2025, Judge John Martin at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to four years for the second assault and 18 months for the first to run consecutively, with the final 18 months suspended on condition he keep the peace for two years and have no contact with his wife without her express consent. The man is now on the sex offenders register.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 47-year-old man sexually assaulted his estranged wife on two separate occasions while she was sleeping in bed with their two young children at their family home in Wicklow.
  • During the first incident the man touched his wife's bum, and during the second he digitally penetrated her.
  • The couple separated in January 2023 and the wife filed for divorce.
  • The man returned to the house in January 2024 without his wife's permission and began living in his car parked in front of the house.
  • The wife developed thoughts of suicide and made a plan to take her own life while her children were with their father.
When
The first assault occurred in March 2023 and the second on 10 November 2023.
Charges
The man pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault.
In court
Judge John Martin sentenced the man at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in July 2025.
Sentence
The man was sentenced to four years for the second assault and 18 months for the first to run consecutively, with the final 18 months suspended on condition he keep the peace for two years and have no contact with his wife without her express consent.
Other details
  • The man is on the sex offenders register and had six previous convictions for road traffic offences.
  • The man cannot be identified to protect the identity of his victims.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man sexually assaulted his estranged wife on two separate occasions while she was sleeping in bed with her young children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe 47-year-old father of two pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at their family home in Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man digitally penetrated his wife during the second assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDuring the first incident the man had been touching his wife's bum. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe wife filed for divorce from the man. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man returned to the house in January 2024 without his wife's permission and subsequently began living in his car parked in front of the house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe wife developed thoughts of suicide and made a plan to take her own life while her children were with their father. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe first assault occurred in March 2023 while the wife was sleeping in bed with one of her children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge John Martin sentenced the man to four years for the second sexual assault and 18 months for the first to run consecutively. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on condition the defendant keep the peace for two years and have no contact with his wife without her express consent. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth the man and his wife are non-Irish nationals. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man had six previous convictions for road traffic offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is now on the sex offenders register. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man sexually assaulted his estranged wife while she was in bed with her children

    Sentencing hearing at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court; victim impact statement and details of both assaults given in evidence.

    victim, female, non-irish (judged from name)convicted, 47, male, non-irish (judged from name)