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. 11486Rape and indecent assault · Co. Laois

Midlands brothers jailed for raping their niece

James Joseph Jordan (59) and Patrick Fintan Jordan (55) were jailed for raping and sexually abusing their niece, Sabrina Fox, between 1986 and 1991 at her family home in Borris-in-Ossory, Co Laois. Mr Justice David Keane imposed a sentence of nine and a half years on both men, with the final year suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Jan
    5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
48 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo Laois brothers were jailed for sexual abuse of their niece. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe abuse began on a night when the uncles were supposed to be babysitting the girl. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatTwo Laois brothers were jailed for the sexual abuse of their niece. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatTwo brothers were jailed for sexual abuse of their niece during her childhood. (tipperarylive.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatPatrick Fintan Jordan pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault on dates between 1986 and 1991. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatThe abuse became constant, occurring up to five days a week. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at the victim's family home in Borris-in-Ossory, Co Laois. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at the victim's family home in Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe men pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault on dates between 1986 and 1991. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe abuse began when the victim was nine years old. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place between 1986 and 1991. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe abuse began when the niece was nine years old. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe sexual abuse by the two men continued until the victim was 13. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe abuse began when the victim was aged between eight and nine and continued until she was 13. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe offending took place on dates between 1986 and 1991. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe abuse started when the victim was aged between eight and nine. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe older brother threatened the victim and told her not to tell anyone. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe abuse began with the victim being raped by both men on the same night they were minding her. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe victim made a complaint to gardaí in 2022 and a statement was taken. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe younger man was arrested and interviewed in 2024. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe victim complained to gardaí in 2022 and a statement was taken. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeJames Joseph Jordan pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault. (leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • chargePatrick Fintan Jordan pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault. (leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeJames Joseph Jordan pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault on dates between 1986 and 1991. (offalyexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargePatrick Fintan Jordan also pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault on dates between 1986 and 1991. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe victim told the Central Criminal Court that the brothers had destroyed her childhood. (rte.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the offending as a sequence of frequent and persistent rape offences over five years. (rte.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe men were in a position of trust as the victim's uncles and babysitters. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution said the Director of Public Prosecutions viewed the case as falling into the more serious range, with a sentence of 10 to 15 years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe victim gave evidence in a victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge considered the men's guilty pleas and psychological reports in mitigation. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe victim gave a victim impact statement to the Central Criminal Court. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceMr Justice David Keane imposed a sentence of nine and a half years on both men. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended on strict conditions, with a three-year post-release supervision order. (rte.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceEach man was sentenced to nine and a half years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceMr Justice Keane imposed a sentence of nine and a half years on both men. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended on strict conditions, and a three-year post-release supervision order was imposed. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceEach man was sentenced to nine and a half years, reflecting their global offending. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted that both men were at high risk of suicidal ideation and asked defence counsel to tell the Irish Prison Service. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the victim was particularly vulnerable due to her age at the time. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe younger brother had a previous conviction for violence, though not for sexual violence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe Director of Public Prosecutions considered the case to fall in the more serious range, with a sentence of 10 to 15 years. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted that both men were at high risk of suicidal ideation. (leinsterexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe victim waived her anonymity so the men could be named. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • otherOne of the men told the victim that her mother would not believe her. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe victim's mother told her to try to forget the abuse after she disclosed it. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the men were in a position of trust as the victim's uncles and babysitters. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jan2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    'Your mammy won't believe you': Midlands brothers jailed for raping their niece

    Sentencing of two brothers at the Central Criminal Court. Adds the victim's account, the trial judge's remarks, the sentence terms and a 2022 garda complaint.

    convicted, James Joseph Jordan, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Joseph Jordanconvicted, Patrick Fintan Jordan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Fintan Jordanvictim, Sabrina Fox, female, irish (judged from name)Sabrina Fox
  2. 15 Jan2026
    Sentencedtipperarylive.ie, follow-up
    'Your mammy won't believe you,' man with Tipperary address jailed for raping his niece

    Sentencing of the two brothers at the Central Criminal Court, reported by Tipperary Live. Adds the sentence, the victim impact statement, the judge's remarks, the 2022 complaint and the 2024 interviews. Offending dates are given only as 1986 to 1991.

    victim, Sabrina Fox, female, irish (judged from name)Sabrina Foxconvicted, James Joseph Jordan, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Joseph Jordanconvicted, Patrick Fintan Jordan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Fintan Jordan
  3. 15 Jan2026
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Two brothers from the Midlands jailed for sexual abuse of young niece

    Sentencing report. Both brothers pleaded guilty. The abuse began when the victim was about nine and continued until she was 13. The victim waived anonymity, and the judge imposed a three-year post-release supervision order.

    convicted, James Joseph Jordan, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Joseph Jordanconvicted, Patrick Fintan Jordan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Fintan Jordanvictim, Sabrina Fox, female, irish (judged from name)Sabrina Fox
  4. 15 Jan2026
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Two Laois brothers jailed for sexual abuse of young niece

    Sentencing report. The offences took place between 1986 and 1991 and the victim waived anonymity. No existing case in the list matches this case.

    victim, Sabrina Fox, female, irish (judged from name)Sabrina Foxconvicted, James Joseph Jordan, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Joseph Jordanconvicted, Patrick Fintan Jordan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Fintan Jordan
  5. 15 Jan2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Two brothers jailed for sexually abusing their niece

    Sentencing report for an existing case. Adds the sentences (nine and a half years each, final year suspended, three-year post-release supervision), the victim's waiver of anonymity, the victim impact statement, and the judge's remarks on the men's position of trust and high suicide risk.

    victim, Sabrina Fox, female, irish (judged from name)Sabrina Foxconvicted, James Joseph Jordan, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Joseph Jordanconvicted, Patrick Fintan Jordan, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Fintan Jordan