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. 3762Sexual abuse (rape, indecent assault, sexual assault) · Co. Sligo

Noel Farrell, 70, jailed for 20 years for sexually abusing five of his children in Sligo

Noel Farrell, 70, of Rathedmond Estate, Sligo, was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the Central Criminal Court on 21 February 2026 after pleading guilty to raping and sexually abusing five of his children over two decades, during which they were locked in a room for days without food and forced to drink urine.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNoel Farrell, 70, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse counts at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe five victims were aged between two and 17 during the periods of abuse (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe abuse included rape, sexual assault, inappropriate touching and digital penetration (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatChildren were locked in a room for days without food (irishtimes.com)
  • whatChildren were forced to drink urine to survive (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSome of the children were taken into care in 1981 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatFarrell and his late wife had serious issues with alcohol (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAfter the marriage broke down, Farrell went to England (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNoel Farrell, 70, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing five of his children at various addresses in Co. Sligo over two decades. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe children were locked in a room for days at a time without food and forced to drink urine. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe fourth daughter was raped when she was 17 in March 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHelen was aged between four and six-and-a-half when the abuse took place. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJessica was first abused when she was around three and a half years old in an aunt's house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenHe has been in custody since pleading guilty in November (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe fourth daughter was raped at 17 in March 1997 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe health board had concerns about sexual misconduct reported in 1989 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGarda Sergeant Diarmuid Fearon gave evidence in December (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Health Board had concerns about sexual misconduct that were reported in some form in 1989. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA formal complaint was made to gardai in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationFarrell was voluntarily interviewed in March 2022 and denied all the allegations. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe initially faced 109 counts (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to three counts of rape against three of his daughters (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault relating to all five complainants (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeFarrell initially faced 109 counts but pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting his son Christopher. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Tony Hunt delivered the sentence (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing was handed down by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to 20 years in prison, reduced from a headline sentence of 30 years (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceNo post-release supervision order was imposed (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFour of the five children wished to waive their right to anonymity (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFarrell made no visible reaction as the sentence was imposed (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFarrell has a significant history of alcoholism and has been sober for several years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHis last offence was in 1997 and he has been in custody since pleading in early November. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFour of the five children waived their right to anonymity; the fifth did not wish to be named but wished for Farrell to be named. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Feb2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Dad who sexually abused 5 of his kids and forced them to drink urine jailed

    Sentencing report: Mr Justice Tony Hunt set a headline sentence of 30 years reduced to 20 years, noting the extreme cruelty and gravity of the offending. Details of the abuse, victim impact statements, and background evidence are provided.

    convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Amanda Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Amanda Farrellvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Jessica Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, Christopher Farrell, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher Farrellvictim, female
  2. 20 Feb2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘A grotesque breach’: Man jailed for 20 years for sexually abusing five of his children

    Sentencing report. Judge Tony Hunt set a headline sentence of 30 years, reduced to 20 years for the guilty plea. The abuse spanned over two decades with the last offence in March 1997. Farrell has been in custody since pleading guilty in November 2025.

    convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Amanda Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Amanda Farrellvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Jessica Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female