Case No. 3157False imprisonment, stalking · Co. Dublin
Man who absconded from mental health facility jailed for false imprisonment and stalking in Dalkey
Alexander Crowley, 20, who was an involuntary inpatient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, was sentenced to three years (final year suspended) at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for falsely imprisoning and stalking a woman in August 2024 after absconding from a mental health facility on the day of the offence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 May
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports42 statements extracted from the articles
- whatO'Brien was in his 30s at the time of the assault (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe grabbed her from behind in a bear hug and held his hand over her mouth while she tried to scream. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incident lasted around 30 seconds according to CCTV. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe six accused men are aged between 32 and 55 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe six accused are the main complainant's three uncles and three younger brothers (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main complainant alleged Accused C raped her when she was seven and he was four (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main complainant alleged Accused C forced sex with her in their garden when she was 11 and he was 8 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main complainant is deaf and vulnerable (irishtimes.com)
- whatComplainant 3 told the court she did not know her older brother at all (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault took place between April and September 1990 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault offences took place in Dublin between 15 August and 5 September 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe trial took place in November 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe woman was leaving her workplace at around 10pm when the incident occurred. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged abuse occurred over a 19-year period between 1995 and 2014 (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe defendant became jealous after seeing photos of the woman on a work night out with male colleagues and began calling her a slut and a whore. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA public alert was issued for Crowley after he first absconded from the facility due to concerns for his own safety. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man pleaded guilty to more than 30 counts of assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeA jury convicted him of 15 more counts of assault causing harm to which he had pleaded not guilty. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and stalking on a date in August 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe six men face a combined total of 20 charges (irishtimes.com)
- charge16 of the 20 charges pertain to the main complainant who is deaf (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C is charged with 10 counts relating to sexual abuse of the main complainant and two younger sisters (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C was originally charged with 45 counts, but a number were withdrawn by the DPP (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape and one count of sexual assault against the main complainant between 2003 and 2010 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C denied one count of sexual assault on Complainant 2 between 2005 and 2006 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping Complainant 2 between 2015 and 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C denied one count of anally raping Complainant 3 between 2010 and 2014 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial and sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal is being heard by a three-judge court of Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Tara Burns, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Four Courts. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe three-judge court reserved judgment to be delivered the following Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtJustice Caroline Biggs is presiding over the trial (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn December 2022, Mr Justice Michael McGrath at the Central Criminal Court sentenced the man to 12 years with six months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe sentenced him to three years with the final year suspended on conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceConditions include no contact with the injured party for 10 years, continuing psychiatric medication, and Probation Service supervision for one year after release. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge stated that without his mental health issues the headline sentence would have been six years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCrowley was an involuntary inpatient under the Mental Health Act in the weeks before the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe absconded from the mental health facility on the day of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was brought back to the facility by gardaí several days after the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman gave up her job after the incident and no longer goes out alone. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNone of the parties can be named for legal reasons (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 May2026‘Devastating problem’ for prosecution as man accused of rape when he was four, court hears
Covers closing speeches for Accused C, highlighting the prosecution's difficulty with the complainant's allegation that he raped her at age four, the defence's cross-examination of the three complainants, and the withdrawal of numerous charges by the DPP.
victim, femaleaccused, malevictim, femalevictim, female - 5 May2026Man who absconded from mental health facility and falsely imprisoned woman jailed
Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Judge Orla Crowe imposed three years with final year suspended, noting a six-year headline sentence would have applied absent his mental health difficulties.
convicted, Alexander Crowley, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alexander Crowleyvictim, female - 5 May2026Man who urinated, raped and put former partner's head down toilet begins appeal
Reports the appeal hearing in which the defendant's counsel argued prosecution counsel's personal opinions and interruptions created unfairness; the State's team responded that the comments were decontextualised; the three-judge court reserved judgment to be delivered the following Monday.
convicted, 53, malevictim, female - 5 May2026Man who indecently assaulted teenage girl more than 35 years ago jailed
Reports the conviction and sentencing of Patrick O'Brien for an indecent assault that occurred more than 35 years prior, including the victim impact statement and the judge's reasoning.
convicted, 74, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 15 or 16, female