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. 10191Sexual abuse of a female relative · Co. Dublin

Most charges withdrawn against six men in eight-month family abuse trial at Central Criminal Court

Six men and a seventh man, all relatives of a deaf woman, were accused of sexually abusing her at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, with the alleged abuse said to have taken place between 1995 and 2014. The men were originally charged with 103 charges in total, and the trial opened in October 2025. The DPP withdrew most charges, and the six men were re-arraigned on a combined 20 charges, all of which they have denied, while all charges against the seventh man were withdrawn. As reported on 1 April 2026, the prosecution closing speech by Roisin Lacey SC had begun and would continue the following day.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Apr
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Six men are accused of sexually abusing their female relative, a deaf woman who is the main complainant.
Where
The case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
When
The alleged abuse is now said to have occurred over a 19-year period between 1995 and 2014.
Other details
  • The six men are the complainant's three uncles and three younger brothers, aged between 32 and 55.
  • The seventh man is the complainant's 33-year-old brother, who was originally facing 22 charges.
Charges
  • The men were originally charged with 103 charges in total, most of which concerned the main complainant.
  • The DPP withdrew most charges against six of the men, and all charges against the seventh man were withdrawn.
  • Sixteen of the 20 remaining charges relate to the main complainant, and one brother faces four counts relating to two other sisters.
In court
  • The trial opened in October 2025 and had run for nearly eight months.
  • Six of the men were re-arraigned on a combined total of 20 charges, and all six have denied all of them.
  • Judge Caroline Biggs told the jury that the DPP withdrew the charges after extensive legal argument.
  • Prosecuting barrister Roisin Lacey SC began her closing speech to the jury, and it was to continue the following day.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSix men are accused of sexually abusing their female relative. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged abuse is now said to have occurred over a 19-year period between 1995 and 2014. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe men were originally charged with 103 charges in total. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeMost of the original charges pertained to the main complainant, who is deaf. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe DPP withdrew a number of charges against six of the men. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeAll charges against the seventh man were withdrawn. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeSixteen of the 20 charges pertain to the main complainant. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeOne of the brothers is charged with four counts relating to the abuse of two other sisters. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial opened in October 2025 and had run for nearly eight months. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtSix of the men were re-arraigned on a combined total of 20 charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtAll six men have denied all of the charges against them. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Caroline Biggs told the jury that the DPP withdrew the charges after extensive legal argument. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution closing speech will continue the following day. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe six men are the complainant's three uncles and three younger brothers. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe six men were aged between 32 and 55. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe seventh man is the complainant's 33-year-old brother and was originally facing 22 charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherProsecuting barrister Roisin Lacey SC began her closing speech to the jury. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Apr2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Over 80 charges against six men withdrawn in eight-month family abuse trial

    Reports that the DPP withdrew most charges against six men, re-arraigned them on 20 charges, withdrew all charges against a seventh man, and that the prosecution closing speech began.

    victim, femaleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, 33, male