Ireland Man who called himself 'Dr Philip' jailed for circumcising seven boys
Philip Ogbewe, a 59-year-old man from Drogheda, Co Louth, who called himself 'Dr Philip', circumcised seven boys, six infants and one five-year-old, in their homes and at other locations in Dublin, Kildare and Wexford between January 2018 and October 2019. He was arrested in November 2018 over a 2015 circumcision of another child, who was hospitalised with complications, and he was on bail for that case when the later offences were committed. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm, and a charge of deception by claiming to be a medical practitioner was dropped. On 10 July 2024, Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court imposed a global sentence of seven and a half years with the final 12 months suspended, reported as six and a half years in custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced10 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Philip Ogbewe, 59, of Drogheda, Co Louth, called himself 'Dr Philip' and circumcised seven boys in their homes.
- Other details
- The seven boys were six infants and one five-year-old.
- Parents contacted him after hearing of him through friends, and some had been quoted around €1,500 for hospital surgery.
- Parents were charged between €300 and €350 in most cases.
- Some parents reported that no medication was used during the procedure.
- One boy was found to have scar tissue and an uneven scar line.
- Where
- The procedures took place at various locations in Dublin, Kildare and Wexford, usually in the children's own homes.
- When
- The offences were committed between January 1, 2018 and October 23, 2019.
- Investigation
- Ogbewe was arrested in November 2018 over a 2015 circumcision of another child, who was hospitalised with complications.
- In court
- Ogbewe was on bail for the earlier offence when the later offences were committed.
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Charges
- Ogbewe pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm.
- A charge of deception by claiming to be a medical practitioner was dropped by the prosecution.
- Sentence
- Judge Elma Sheahan imposed four and a half years on each of the seven endangerment counts.
- The global sentence was seven and a half years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, reported as jailed for six and a half years.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man who called himself 'Dr Philip' circumcised seven boys in their homes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe circumcisions took place at various locations in Dublin, Kildare and Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe procedures were usually carried out in the children's own homes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences were committed between January 1, 2018 and October 23, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOgbewe was arrested in November 2018 over a 2015 circumcision of another child, who was hospitalised with complications. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeOgbewe pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeA charge of deception by claiming to be a medical practitioner was dropped by the prosecution. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtOgbewe was on bail for the earlier offence when he carried out these crimes. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Elma Sheahan imposed a four-and-a-half-year sentence on each of the seven counts of endangerment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge gave a global sentence of seven and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherParents were charged between €300 and €350 in most cases. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSome parents reported that no medication was used during the procedure. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOne boy was found to have scar tissue and an uneven scar line. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Jul2024Man who called himself doctor & circumcised seven boys jailed for over six years
Sentencing report. Ogbewe, 59, of Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to seven counts of endangerment and seven counts of assault causing harm and was given a global sentence of seven and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. Offences were committed between January 2018 and October 2019 while he was on bail for an earlier circumcision case.
convicted, Philip Ogbewe, 59, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Philip Ogbewevictim, infant, malevictim, infant, malevictim, infant, malevictim, infant, malevictim, infant, malevictim, infant, malevictim, 5, male