Saturday 31 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. 18119Sexual assault · Co. Dublin · 14 Mar 1991

Noel Foran's appeal against consecutive sentences for sexual assault of stepdaughter rejected

Noel Foran, a 61-year-old man from Lucan, County Dublin, pleaded guilty to three sample counts of ten sexual assaults on his stepdaughter, Irene Cullen, which took place at the family home between 14 March 1991 and 13 March 1998. He was sentenced in July 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and sources differ on the term: one says the three-year sentence was reduced to 18 months, the other says he received three years. The Court of Appeal then rejected his appeal against the consecutive sentences, and the latest development was reported on 27 February 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Noel Foran, a 61-year-old man from Lucan, County Dublin, sexually assaulted his stepdaughter, Irene Cullen.
  • Foran told counsellors he assaulted the victim about ten times, mostly while she was asleep, when she was aged between six and 13.
Where
The assaults took place at the family home.
When
The sexual assaults took place between 14 March 1991 and 13 March 1998.
Charges
Foran pleaded guilty to three sample counts of ten sexual assaults.
Sentence
Foran was sentenced in July 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; one source says the three-year term was reduced to 18 months, with 18 months on the first and tenth charges run consecutively, while the article says he was sentenced to three years and will serve the full term.
In court
  • The Court of Appeal rejected Foran's appeal against the consecutive sentences, and Ms Justice Burns found no error in principle in the sentencing judge's decision.
  • The key facts give the Court of Appeal decision date as 26 February 2024, while the article dated 27 February 2024 reports the case as heard that day.
Other details
  • Foran had no previous convictions at the time of sentencing.
  • The Granada Institute, a treatment centre for child sex abusers, closed in 2011, and a report from it said Foran was cured.
  • Irene Cullen was diagnosed with PTSD and other psychiatric disorders as a direct result of the trauma.
  • Cullen self-harmed with razor blades as a teenager and was first prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping tablets at age 16.
  • Ms Justice Burns noted the offending was of a very serious nature, involving a single victim over seven years.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatForan pleaded guilty to three sample counts of ten sexual assaults of his stepdaughter. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatForan told counsellors he sexually assaulted his stepdaughter approximately ten times, mostly while the child was asleep, when she was aged between six and 13. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe sexual assaults took place between March 14, 1991 and March 13, 1998. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal rejected Foran's appeal on 26 February 2024. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceHe received 18 months on the first and tenth charge with sentences to run consecutively. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceThe sentencing judge reduced the three-year sentence to 18 months, a 50 per cent reduction, taking account of delay. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe Granada Institute was a treatment centre for child sex abusers that closed in 2011. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherA report from the Granada Institute said Foran was cured. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherForan had no previous convictions at the time of sentencing. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherIrene Cullen was diagnosed with PTSD and other psychiatric disorders as a direct result of the trauma. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherMs Cullen self-harmed with razor blades as a teenager and was first prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping tablets at age 16. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherMs Justice Burns noted the offending was of a very serious nature as it involved a single victim over seven years. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Feb2024
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, follow-up
    61-year-old Lucan man who sexually assaulted his stepdaughter to serve full sentence after appeal is rejected

    Court of Appeal rejected Foran's appeal against the imposition of consecutive sentences, confirming the three-year term. Ms Justice Burns found no error in principle in the sentencing judge's decision.

    victim, Irene Cullen, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Cullenconvicted, Noel Foran, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Foran