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. 18636Sexual assault · Co. Laois

Pensioner accused of sexual assault in Laois

An old age pensioner in his early 80s, who cannot be named because of reporting restrictions, is accused of sexually assaulting a girl at a shopping centre in Laois on June 3 last. It is alleged he leaned over and touched her inner thigh during a brief encounter in what the defence said was a public place. Gardaí were alerted after the girl reported the matter, and the man was identified through CCTV and arrested. He appeared at Portlaoise District Court, where Judge Nicola Andrews accepted jurisdiction, imposed reporting restrictions and ordered disclosure, and the case was adjourned back to the same court on February 22.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • An old age pensioner appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a girl in Laois.
  • It is alleged the accused leaned over and touched the girl's inner thigh during a brief encounter.
Where
The alleged assault took place at a shopping centre in Laois, which the defence said was a public place.
When
The alleged assault took place on June 3 last, according to the report published on 13 January 2024.
Investigation
  • Gardaí were alerted after the girl reported the matter to them.
  • The accused was identified through CCTV and arrested.
Other details
The accused is in his early 80s and cannot be named due to reporting restrictions.
In court
  • Judge Nicola Andrews agreed to accept jurisdiction, so the case can be heard in the District Court.
  • The judge ordered disclosure and imposed reporting restrictions.
  • The case was adjourned back to Portlaoise District Court on February 22.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAn old age pensioner appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a girl in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatIt is alleged the accused leaned over and touched the girl's inner thigh during a brief encounter. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe alleged sexual assault took place at a shopping centre in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged sexual assault took place on June 3 last. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted after the girl reported the matter to them. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was identified through CCTV and arrested. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Nicola Andrews agreed to accept jurisdiction, so the case can be heard in the District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge ordered disclosure and imposed reporting restrictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned back to Portlaoise District Court on February 22. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe accused is in his early 80s and cannot be named due to reporting restrictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the incident was alleged to have occurred in a public place. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Jan2024
    In courtleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Pensioner accused of sexual assault

    First report of this case: the accused's age, the alleged location and conduct, how it came to garda attention, and the court dates.

    victim, femaleaccused, early 80s, male