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. 0659Rape, attempted rape, indecent assault · 1 Oct 1971

Man who raped sisters in 1970s granted anonymity by High Court

A 68-year-old man from Donegal was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of 16 offences, including three counts of rape, one attempted rape and 10 indecent assaults, committed against his two younger sisters between October 1971 and November 1973 in Dublin, when he was aged 14 to 16 and the victims were 13 and 11. The younger sister first reported the abuse to Gardaí in 2002 after learning of his arrest for producing child pornography, and both sisters went to Gardaí again in 2019. He was sentenced to seven years for the rape and attempted rape offences with a two-year concurrent term for the sexual assaults, the final year suspended. In July 2026, High Court Judge Eileen Creedon granted the man an anonymity order, ruling he could not be named because he was a child at the time of the offending, relying on the May 2025 Supreme Court ruling in DPP vs Doe.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced6 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The man was convicted of 16 offences including three counts of rape, one attempted rape and 10 indecent assaults against his two younger sisters.
  • The two victims were aged 13 and 11 when the abuse began, and the man was aged between 14 and 16.
Where
The offences occurred in Dublin after the family moved there from Donegal.
When
The offences occurred on various dates between October 1971 and November 1973.
Investigation
The younger sister first went to Gardaí in 2002 after learning the man had been arrested for producing child pornography, and both sisters went to Gardaí in 2019.
Charges
The man pleaded not guilty to all charges and does not accept the jury verdicts.
In court
  • The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court.
  • In July 2026, High Court Judge Eileen Creedon granted the man an anonymity order under the May 2025 Supreme Court ruling in DPP vs Doe.
Sentence
He was sentenced to seven years for the rape and attempted rape offences, with a two-year concurrent term for the sexual assault offences, the final year suspended on strict conditions.
Other details
  • In 2004 the man was jailed for two years for producing child pornography.
  • In the mid-1990s the man told the two sisters he was sorry and asked them to forgive him.
  • The man issued threats about what would happen to the younger sister if she told anyone.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man is 68 years old and from Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe two victims were aged 13 and 11 when the man began abusing them (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man was aged between 14 and 16 when the offending began (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man pleaded not guilty to all charges and does not accept the jury verdicts (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn the mid-1990s he told the two sisters he was sorry and asked them to forgive him (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man issued various threats about what would happen to the younger sister if she told anyone (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe children had a difficult childhood and were in and out of care due to their parents' personal circumstances (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe care homes were places of violence and the defendant acted as a protector to the younger siblings (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused would creep into the bedroom shared by his three sisters and sexually assault the older victim (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIn 2004 he was jailed for two years for producing child pornography (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe younger sister said he went from protector in the care homes to a predator at their home (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHis wife works part-time in healthcare (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe two victims were aged 13 and 11 when the abuse began (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn the mid-1990s the man told the sisters he was sorry and asked them to forgive him (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe man issued threats about what would happen to the younger sister if she told anyone (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe abuse began after the family moved to Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe younger sister first went to Gardaí in 2002 after learning he had been arrested for production of child pornographic material (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenIn 2019 the younger victim and her sister went to Gardaí (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred on various dates between October 1971 and November 1973 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe younger sister first went to gardaí in 2002 when the defendant was aged 45 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe younger sister made a statement of complaint but later withdrew it (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was convicted of three counts of rape and eight counts of indecent assault of one sister (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was convicted of attempted rape and indecent assault of her younger sister (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man was convicted of 16 offences including three of rape, one attempted rape, and 10 indecent assaults (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Eileen Creedon granted the defence application and made an order the man cannot be named (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence relied on the May 2025 Supreme Court ruling in DPP vs Doe (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to seven years for the rape offences and attempted rape (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceA two-year concurrent term was imposed for the sexual assault offences (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final year of the seven-year term was suspended on strict conditions (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe man was sentenced to seven years for the rape offences and attempted rape (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man has not offended for a long period of time (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man was generally co-operative with the investigation (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man had a difficult upbringing (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man has not expressed remorse (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man could not benefit from mitigation for pleading guilty (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who raped sisters cannot be named due to being a minor at time, High Court rules

    Reports the High Court ruling granting anonymity to the convicted man, details of the sentencing by Judge Eileen Creedon, and the background of the case including the 2002 and 2019 reports to gardaí.

    convicted, 60s, malevictim, 13, femalevictim, 11, female
  2. 6 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    'Wicked' man who sexually abused his sisters in the 1970s can't be named

    Provides full sentencing details (seven years for rape/attempted rape, two-year concurrent for sexual assault, final year suspended), the High Court anonymity order reasoning under DPP vs Doe, victim impact statements, background on the family's difficult childhood in care homes, and the 2004 child pornography conviction.

    victim, 13, female, irish (judged from name)victim, 11, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, 68, male, irish (judged from name)