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. 8664Contempt of court · Co. Dublin

Mother before court over alleged filming of sentencing hearing

A 30-year-old Carlow man was jailed for seven years on June 26 at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of orally raping a child, a case whose sentence hearing was held in camera. A garda became aware the day after the hearing of a Facebook video allegedly recorded in court, and a detective garda served notice of a contempt motion on the victim's mother, who is alleged to have made the recording and posted it. The matter was brought back before the Central Criminal Court, and on July 9 a High Court judge ordered the mother to be brought before the court to face allegations of contempt. The DPP is seeking an attachment order against her and an injunction prohibiting further postings that identify the defendant or the victim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court9 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victim's mother is alleged to have video-recorded the defendant in court and posted the recording on Facebook.
  • The Facebook post showed a screenshot of a Carlow Nationalist report of the sentence hearing alongside a video recorded inside the courtroom.
Cause
The contempt matter concerns a sentencing hearing for a sexual offence against a child, held in camera with the complainant's anonymity not waived.
Where
The sentencing hearing and the contempt matter are before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
When
  • The defendant was jailed for seven years on June 26.
  • A garda became aware of a video posted on Facebook the day after the sentencing hearing.
Charges
  • The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of orally raping a child.
  • The woman is to face allegations of contempt of court.
Investigation
A detective garda served notice of the contempt motion on the woman, who said she feared going to prison.
In court
  • A High Court judge ordered that the woman be brought before the court to face allegations of contempt.
  • The DPP is seeking an order that the woman be brought before the court to answer for the criminal offence of contempt of court.
  • The DPP is also seeking an injunction prohibiting further postings that identify the defendant or the victim.
Other details
  • The video post was viewed around 300 times and has since been taken down.
  • The defendant cannot be named by law because of the statutory anonymity of the victim under the Children Act.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe woman is alleged to have made a video recording in court and posted it on Facebook. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe Facebook post showed a screenshot of a Carlow Nationalist report of the sentence hearing alongside a video recorded inside the courtroom. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe contempt matter was brought back before the Central Criminal Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenA garda became aware of a video posted on Facebook the day after the sentencing hearing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationA detective garda served notice of the contempt motion on the woman, who said she feared going to prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe mother is to face allegations of contempt of court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of sexual assault and one count of orally raping a child. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtA High Court judge has ordered that the mother of a child rape victim be brought before the court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe DPP is seeking an order that the woman be brought before the court to answer for the criminal offence of contempt of court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe DPP is also seeking an injunction prohibiting further postings identifying the defendant or the victim. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was jailed for seven years on June 26. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe complainant had not waived anonymity, and the sentence hearing was held in camera. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe video post was viewed around 300 times and has since been taken down. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Jul2026
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Judge orders mother before court over alleged filming of daughter’s rapist

    Reports that the DPP is seeking an attachment order against the mother over an alleged video recording of the sentencing hearing, that the video was posted on Facebook and viewed about 300 times before being taken down, and that the DPP is seeking an injunction against further postings identifying the defendant or victim.

    accused, femaleconvicted, 30, male