Ireland Case No. 4845Sexual assault; offensive conduct of a sexual nature (covert recordings) · Co. Westmeath
Personal trainer Shane Flynn convicted of sexual assault at Mullingar gym
Shane Flynn, a 35-year-old personal trainer who ran the NGS gym at Westside House in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was convicted at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court of sexually assaulting a woman in her mid-20s during an in-person appointment in early 2021. He had earlier admitted a second charge of making covert digital recordings of women at the gym from July 2018 to August 2020, and the court heard that he secretly filmed 35 other women topless while massaging them. The verdict followed a six-day trial before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury, after which the judge remanded him on bail with stringent conditions and barred him from carrying out treatments. He will be sentenced at a future date, and the case is to be listed in December to set the sentence hearing date.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted23 Oct
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Flynn was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in her mid-20s who had sought treatment from him for chronic back problems.
- The woman said he touched her breasts, vagina, pubic area and buttocks.
- He secretly filmed 35 other women topless while massaging them at his gym.
- Court heard that 18 hours of video on his laptop showed him making suggestive remarks to women and massaging their breasts.
- Where
- The assault happened at his NGS gym at Westside House in Mullingar, and the covert recordings were made at the gym over two years.
- When
- The assault took place at an in-person appointment in early 2021, and the recordings were made from July 2018 to August 2020.
- Investigation
- Gardaí could not identify the women in the videos, which showed no non-consensual behaviour and were not shared or distributed.
- Charges
- He was charged on one indictment with sexual assault and with offensive conduct of a sexual nature by covert digital recordings of women.
- He denied sexually assaulting the woman in January 2021 but admitted the covert recording charge, which he pleaded guilty to in May; one account says he denied the charges.
- In court
- The six-day trial before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury of nine men and three women ended in a guilty verdict at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, and Flynn did not testify.
- The judge remanded Flynn on bail with stringent conditions and barred him from carrying out any treatments.
- The victim's impact statement was read into the court record.
- Sentence
- The sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment.
- Sentencing is set for a future date, and the case will be listed in December to fix the sentence hearing date.
- Other details
- Reports differ on whether his name remains under reporting restrictions, as one report says it does until a later ruling and a later report says the media may now name him.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA personal trainer was convicted of a predatory sexual assault on a woman who sought treatment for chronic back problems. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man touched the woman's breasts, vagina, pubic area and buttocks. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA personal trainer was convicted of a sexual assault on a woman who sought treatment for chronic back problems. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe secretly filmed 35 other women topless as he gave them massages at his gym. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe covert recordings were made at a gym over two years. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault happened at his gym, NGS, at Westside House in Mullingar. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe sexual assault took place in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe victim attended an in-person appointment in early 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí could not identify the women in the videos. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA second charge on the same indictment was for offensive conduct of a sexual nature by covert digital recordings of women. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe denied sexually assaulting a woman in January 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe admitted a second charge of offensive conduct of a sexual nature by making covert digital recordings of females at his gym from July 2018 until August 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe verdict followed a six-day trial before Judge Ronan Munro and a jury at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge remanded the man on bail pending sentencing and barred him from carrying out any treatments. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Ronan Munro remanded him on bail with stringent conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMullingar Circuit Criminal Court heard that 18 hours of video footage on his laptop showed him making suggestive remarks to women and massaging their breasts. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury of nine men and three women convicted him of sexually assaulting the woman. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe will be sentenced at a future date, and the case will be listed in December to set the sentence hearing date. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man pleaded guilty to the covert recording offence in May, which led to reporting restrictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man denied the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe trial lasted six days. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe videos did not feature any non-consensual behaviour and were not shared or distributed. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFlynn did not testify in court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's impact statement was read into the court record. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Oct2024Personal trainer convicted of ‘predatory’ sex assault secretly filmed 35 other women
Reports the jury verdict, the covert filming of 35 other women, the bail conditions and the sentencing timetable, and that the media may now name Flynn.
convicted, Shane Flynn, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Flynnvictim, female - 23 Oct2024Personal trainer found guilty of ‘predatory’ sexual assault on young woman
First report of the jury verdict; the man is to be sentenced later, and reporting restrictions on his name remain until a later ruling.
convicted, 30s, malevictim, mid-20s, female