Ireland Case No. 2622Sexual assault · Co. Kerry
OIP investigates death of woman sentenced for sexual assault in Kerry
Josephine McMahon, a woman from Kenmare, Co Kerry, was sentenced in June 2023 to two and a half years for sexually assaulting two brothers, aged four to five and eight to 12, at her home in Kerry between 1992 and 1996. She pleaded guilty to two sample counts of sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court. She died of a suspected heart attack in hospital on 1 January 2025 after being transferred from the Dóchas Centre in Dublin over Christmas. The Office of the Inspector of Prisons investigated her death and reported in January 2026 that she had phoned her sister a week before dying to say she was going downhill.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 Jun
- Convicted9 Jun
2 reports - Sentenced26 Jun
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- McMahon pleaded guilty to two sample counts of sexually assaulting two brothers at an address in Kerry.
- The boys were aged between four and five and between eight and 12 at the time of the abuse.
- McMahon used a wooden spoon to sexually assault the younger boy and urinated in his bath on a second occasion.
- Where
- The offences took place at an address in Kenmare, Co Kerry, when the boys were visiting McMahon's house.
- When
- The offences took place on dates between 1992 and 1996.
- Weapon
- A wooden spoon was used in the abuse of the younger boy.
- Charges
- McMahon pleaded guilty to two sample counts of sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court in June 2023.
- In court
- Ms Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced McMahon at the Central Criminal Court on 26 June 2023.
- Sentence
- McMahon was sentenced to three and a half years with the final 12 months suspended and must remain under Probation Service supervision for a further 12 months after release.
- Other details
- McMahon, whose age is reported as 68, 69, or 70, died of a suspected heart attack in hospital on 1 January 2025 after being transferred from the Dóchas Centre in Dublin.
- McMahon had no previous convictions and suffered from diabetes, kidney disease, and was a wheelchair user.
- Investigation
- The Office of the Inspector of Prisons investigated her death in the Dóchas Centre on 1 January 2025.
90 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcMahon pleaded guilty to two sample counts of sexually assaulting two brothers. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, rte.ie)
- whatThe boys were aged between four and five and between eight and 12 at the time of the abuse. (irishtimes.com, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA Kerry woman has admitted sexual abuse of two boys. (extra.ie)
- whatMcMahon, 68, was jailed for two and a half years. (rte.ie)
- whatThe woman sexually abused two young boys. (extra.ie)
- whatJosephine McMahon, 70, died of a suspected heart attack in hospital on 1 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcMahon produced a wooden spoon and inserted the handle in the younger boy's anus (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcMahon ran the boy a bath as he was bleeding and repeatedly told him it was his own fault (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcMahon started to undress around the boy and asked him if he wanted to touch her (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn the second occasion of sexual assault, McMahon urinated in the boy's bath (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA third sexual assault of a similar nature occurred in one of the bedrooms (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe younger complainant struggled with addiction issues as a teenager and had suicidal thoughts (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe older brother was abused on a number of occasions when aged between eight and 12 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcMahon touched the older boy inappropriately, often when passing each other in a narrow hallway (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMcMahon exposed herself to the older boy in the toilet and threatened him with the wooden spoon (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at an address in Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse occurred when the boys were visiting the house she lived in. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assaults took place at an address in Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMcMahon is from Railway Road, Kenmare, Co Kerry. (rte.ie)
- whereThe abuse happened at an address in Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe woman is from County Kerry. (extra.ie)
- whereShe was transferred from Dochas women's prison in Dublin to hospital over Christmas (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on dates between 1992 and 1996. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse is described as having happened about 30 years ago. (extra.ie)
- whenThe assaults took place on dates between 1992 and 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe boys were aged four to five and eight to 12 at the time of the abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences took place between 1992 and 1996. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between 1992 and 1996. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse took place at an address in Kerry on dates between 1992 and 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe abuse occurred at an address in Kerry on dates between 1992 and 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMcMahon died on 1 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenShe was pronounced dead at 2:40pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe youngest boy was sexually assaulted with a wooden spoon. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA wooden spoon was used in the abuse of the younger boy. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponOne complainant was sexually assaulted with a wooden spoon. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDetective Garda Darragh McGuire gave evidence about the younger boy's account. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe Irish Prison Service confirmed a death in custody at the Dochas Centre on 01 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAll deaths in custody are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe OIP investigated her death. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMcMahon pleaded guilty to two sample counts of sexually assaulting the brothers. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeShe pleaded guilty to two sample counts of sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to June 26 for finalisation. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Karen O'Connor said the maximum sentence for the offence at the time was five years. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said she had to take mitigating factors into account. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge noted that the maximum sentence for the offence at the time was five years. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced McMahon (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe maximum sentence for sexual assault during the relevant period is five years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHer counsel asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcMahon will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe maximum sentence for sexual assault in the relevant period is five years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe defence asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMcMahon was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 12 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJosephine McMahon was jailed for two and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge handed down a sentence of 3½ years and suspended the final 12 months on conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcMahon must remain under Probation Service supervision for a further 12 months after release. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe maximum sentence for the offence at the time was five years (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcMahon has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcMahon has diabetes and kidney disease and is a wheelchair user. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe abuse occurred when the boys were visiting the house McMahon lived in. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe younger boy made a victim impact statement describing lasting harm, including depression and anxiety. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe older brother made a victim impact statement describing deep emotional scars. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge said the complainants had nothing to be ashamed of and commended them for coming forward. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcMahon's defence counsel handed in a letter of apology from her. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe court heard McMahon has no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcMahon has diabetes and kidney disease and is expected to need dialysis several times a week. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence said McMahon will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe court heard McMahon took one boy to the bathroom and inserted a wooden spoon in him. (rte.ie)
- otherMcMahon is now in a wheelchair and has a number of serious medical difficulties. (rte.ie)
- otherOne of the boys gave a victim impact statement describing crippling depression and anxiety. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge described the abuse as heinous and praised the victims' courage and dignity. (rte.ie)
- otherThe boys were minors at the time of the abuse, which occurred when they were visiting McMahon’s house. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcMahon is of Railway Road, Kenmare. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcMahon has serious medical difficulties and is a wheelchair user. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHer health has significantly deteriorated and she will require dialysis in the coming months. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe first complainant has suffered from crippling depression and anxiety as a result of the abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcMahon had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcMahon's letter of apology stated that she sincerely apologised to the complainants. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcMahon's health had significantly deteriorated and she would require dialysis in the coming months (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMichael Bowman SC was defending McMahon (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcMahon has no previous convictions, lives an isolated life, and has diabetes and kidney disease (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boys were aged between four and 12 at the time of the abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe was serving her sentence as a protected prisoner in the Dóchas Centre on the Mountjoy campus. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe had end-stage renal failure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and osteoporosis. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe suffered with leg ulcers and required a walking frame or wheelchair. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe had no in-person visits during her 18 months in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe was transferred to the Mater Hospital due to abnormal blood test results and underwent emergency surgery. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherShe was due to be fitted with a pacemaker on 7 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe abuse began after McMahon fell over while the boys were picking rhubarb in a garden. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOn the second occasion of sexual assault, she urinated in his bath and attacked him with a wooden spoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe other complainant was abused when aged between eight and 12. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jan2026Woman jailed for sexually abusing two boys phoned sister before she died
OIP investigation into her death in the Dóchas Centre on 1 January 2025; details of the original abuse, her prison conditions, medical history and the circumstances of her death are provided.
convicted, Josephine McMahon, 69, female, named, irish (judged from name)Josephine McMahonvictim, malevictim, male - 2 Jan2025Elderly woman who abused boys dies in hospital on New Year's Day
Reports the death in custody of convicted sex offender Josephine McMahon on 1 January 2025, with extensive background on the original abuse, the 2023 guilty plea and sentencing, and victim impact statements from both complainants.
convicted, Josephine McMahon, 70, female, named, irish (judged from name)Josephine McMahonvictim, malevictim, male - 27 Jun2023Kerry Woman, 68, Jailed For Sexually Abusing Two Young Boys
Only the headline is readable. The body is a broken search-widget template, so no court, date or sentence details are available.
convicted, 68, female - 26 Jun2023Woman (68) jailed for ‘heinous’ sexual abuse of two boys in Co Kerry 30 years ago
Adds the sentence terms (3½ years with the final 12 months suspended, 12 months under Probation Service supervision on release), the maximum sentence at the time, the defendant's health and lack of previous convictions, and the court's account of the abuse and victim impact.
convicted, Josephine McMahon, 68, female, named, irish (judged from name)Josephine McMahonvictim, malevictim, male - 26 Jun2023Woman jailed for 'heinous' abuse of two young boys
Sentencing report: McMahon, 68, received a three-and-a-half-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended, and the court heard about the abuse, the victims' impact statement and her health.
convicted, Josephine McMahon, 68, female, named, irish (judged from name)Josephine McMahonvictim, 4 or 5 at the time of the abuse, malevictim, 8 to 12 at the time of the abuse, male - 10 Jun2023Woman used wooden spoon to sexually abuse young boy in 'heinous' act
Reports the guilty plea hearing at the Central Criminal Court, the victim impact statements, and the defence request for a suspended sentence. Sentencing was adjourned to June 26.
convicted, Josephine McMahon, 69, female, named, irish (judged from name)Josephine McMahonvictim, four to five at the time of the abuse, malevictim, eight to 12 at the time of the abuse, male - 10 Jun2023Kerry Woman Admits To 'Heinous' Sexual Abuse Of Two Boys 30 Years Ago
Only the headline is usable. The article body is website template code with no case details.
accused, female - 9 Jun2023Woman (69) pleads guilty to sexually assaulting two young boys in 1990s
Reports the guilty plea hearing, the abuse details and victim impact statements, and that sentencing was adjourned to June 26 with a request for a suspended sentence.
victim, between four and five, malevictim, between eight and 12, maleconvicted, Josephine McMahon, 69, female, named, irish (judged from name)Josephine McMahon