Friday 30 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. 17657Rape and sexual abuse of children

Munster abuse case: uncles appeal convictions over jury foreman's letter

Two uncles jailed in the Munster abuse trial have appealed their convictions over a letter the jury foreman sent to the trial judge after the verdict. Five family members, including the two uncles, were found guilty at a 10-week trial held at Croke Park in summer 2021 of offences against their child relatives, committed between August 2014 and April 2016; arrests followed in 2018 after the eldest three children made disclosures while in care. In January 2022, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed each uncle for 15 years, the father for 15 years, the mother for nine years and the aunt for three years. The latest development is that on 10 April 2024 the Court of Appeal heard the uncles' argument that their convictions should be overturned on the basis of the letter, and the appeal continues before a three-judge court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Apr
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two men jailed in the Munster abuse trial have appealed their convictions over a letter sent to the trial judge by the jury foreman after the verdict.
  • Five family members, including two uncles, a father, a mother and an aunt, were convicted in the trial.
When
  • The abuse occurred between August 2014 and April 2016.
  • The trial was a 10-week trial held in summer 2021.
Where
The trial was held at Croke Park.
Investigation
The eldest three children made disclosures of sexual abuse in 2018 after being placed in care, and arrests followed that year.
Charges
The five family members were found guilty on all but one of 78 counts, and both uncles had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In court
  • The trial judge refused an application to sever the cases of the co-accused.
  • The jury foreman wrote a letter to the trial judge, and reporting restrictions were imposed on its contents.
  • The trial judge ruled he had no jurisdiction to set aside the verdict once it had been delivered and the jury discharged.
  • On 10 April 2024 counsel for the younger uncle argued at the Court of Appeal that the conviction should be overturned on the basis of the letter, and the appeal of both men continues before a three-judge court.
Sentence
  • In January 2022, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed each uncle for 15 years.
  • The father was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of all 31 offences against him, the mother for nine years, and the aunt for three years.
Other details
The two men cannot be named to protect the identity of the children.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo men jailed in the Munster abuse trial have appealed their convictions over a letter sent to the trial judge by the jury foreman. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe trial was held in summer 2021 at Croke Park. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe abuse occurred between August 2014 and April 2016. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe eldest three children began to make disclosures after being placed in care, leading to arrests in 2018. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe children's arrests followed their disclosures of sexual abuse in 2018. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe five family members were found guilty on all but one of 78 counts against them. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe men were found guilty of sexually abusing the children between August 2014 and April 2016. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtBoth men had pleaded not guilty to all charges. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial judge ruled he had no jurisdiction to set aside the verdict once it had been delivered and the jury discharged. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial judge refused an application to sever the cases of the co-accused. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe appeal of both men against their convictions continues at the three-judge court. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial was a 10-week trial held at Croke Park in summer 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe five family members were found guilty on all but one of 78 counts. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe jury foreman wrote a letter to the trial judge, and reporting restrictions were imposed on its contents. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe two men are appealing their convictions on the basis of the letter. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial judge ruled that he had no jurisdiction to set aside the jury's verdict. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe trial judge had refused an application to sever the cases of the accused. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe appeal of both men against their convictions was continuing before a three-judge court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceIn January 2022 the two uncles were each jailed for 15 years by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe two uncles were each jailed for 15 years in January 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe father was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of all 31 offences against him. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe mother was jailed for nine years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe aunt was jailed for three years for her part in the abuse. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAt the Court of Appeal, counsel for the younger uncle argued the conviction should be overturned on the basis of the letter sent to the trial judge. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe two men cannot be named to protect the identity of the children. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Apr2024
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Munster abuse case: Children's uncles bid to overturn convictions based on letter sent to judge

    Reports the uncles' appeal against their convictions and gives the sentences and offences of all five family members convicted at the 2021 trial.

    convicted, 29, maleconvicted, 51, maleconvicted, 57, maleconvicted, 34, femaleconvicted, 35, female
  2. 10 Apr2024
    Otherlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Munster abuse trial: Children's uncles bid to overturn convictions on basis of letter sent to trial judge

    Reports the Court of Appeal hearing on the uncles' appeals against conviction, which had earlier been brought in the Central Criminal Court. The article does not give the county where the offences took place.

    convicted, 29, maleconvicted, 51, male