Ireland Case No. 10091Breach of suspended sentence · Co. Dublin · 15 Feb 2026
Philip Sullivan jailed for being in company of teenage boys while on suspended sentence
Philip Sullivan, 63, was found by gardaí at his home on Belgrave Terrace, Rathmines, Dublin, on 15 February 2026 in the company of three boys aged 15, 16 and 17, while serving a suspended prison sentence. In 2008 he was sentenced to concurrent life terms for the rape and sexual assault of two boys, which the Court of Appeal replaced with concurrent 15-year terms, and the final two and a half years were suspended on conditions including no contact with minors. The High Court granted the State's application to revoke the suspension and jailed Sullivan for two and a half years, as reported in April 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Apr
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Philip Sullivan, 63, was found in the company of three teenage boys while serving a suspended prison sentence.
- Where
- Gardaí attended Sullivan's home on Belgrave Terrace, Rathmines, Dublin; Kildare Now reported that his address at the time was on Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin.
- When
- Gardaí, acting on confidential information, attended the home on 15 February 2026.
- Other details
- The three boys were aged 15, 16 and 17.
- Sullivan's risk of re-offending was raised from medium to high after the February events.
- The judge said association with children could not be tolerated given the nature of the offences.
- Cause
- Evidence indicated that one boy was intoxicated and that alcohol and cannabis had been consumed, but the State did not rely on this in its application.
- Investigation
- Sullivan first said he was a friend of one boy's father, but the father said he did not know him; Sullivan initially denied recontacting one boy, then admitted the boy had met him at his front garden.
- In court
- In 2008 Sullivan received two concurrent life sentences from Mr Justice Paul Carney for the rape and sexual assault of two boys aged nine and 11.
- The Court of Appeal later replaced the life sentences with concurrent 15-year sentences.
- The final two and a half years of the sentence were suspended for 10 years on conditions including no contact with minors.
- Oisin Clarke BL prosecuted the application before the High Court.
- Sentence
- The High Court granted the application to revoke the suspension and jailed Sullivan for two and a half years.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSullivan was found in the company of three teenage boys while serving a suspended prison sentence and was jailed for two and a half years. (thejournal.ie)
- whereGardaí attended Sullivan's home on Belgrave Terrace, Rathmines. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Sullivan's home on Belgrave Terrace, Rathmines. (kildarenow.com)
- whenGardaí attended the home on 15 February 2026. (thejournal.ie)
- whenGardaí attended Sullivan's home on February 15. (kildarenow.com)
- causeThere was evidence that one of the boys was intoxicated and that alcohol and cannabis had been consumed. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationSullivan first told gardaí he was a friend of one boy's father, but the father said he did not know Sullivan. (thejournal.ie)
- courtIn 2008 Sullivan received two concurrent life sentences for the rape and sexual assault of two boys, later replaced on appeal with concurrent 15-year sentences. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe final two and a half years of the sentence were suspended for 10 years on conditions including no contact with minors. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe State did not rely on the alleged drinking or drug use in its application. (kildarenow.com)
- courtProsecuting counsel Oisin Clarke BL told the High Court. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceThe High Court granted the application to revoke the suspension of the two and a half year custodial sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSullivan was jailed for two and a half years. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceThe judge granted the application to revoke the suspension of the two and a half year sentence. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThree boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, were present at the home. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
- otherSullivan's risk of re-offending was raised from medium to high after the February events. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
- otherEvidence indicated one of the boys was intoxicated and had consumed alcohol and cannabis. (kildarenow.com)
- otherSullivan told gardaí he was a friend of the father of one of the boys, but the father said he did not know Sullivan. (kildarenow.com)
- otherSullivan initially denied recontacting one of the boys, then admitted the boy had met him at his front garden. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe judge said association with children could not be tolerated given the nature of the offences. (kildarenow.com)
- otherSullivan was previously sentenced in 2008 to life sentences, which the Court of Appeal later replaced with 15-year concurrent sentences. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Apr2026Convicted Kildare child rapist is jailed for being in company of teenage boys
Reports the High Court decision to revoke the suspended two and a half year sentence, the garda visit to Sullivan's Belgrave Terrace home, and the evidence and risk assessment presented to the court.
convicted, Philip Sullivan, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Sullivan - 1 Apr2026Convicted child rapist found in company of three boys jailed for two and a half years
Reports the High Court revoking the suspended two and a half year sentence and jailing Sullivan, with details of the garda visit, the risk assessment and the judge's remarks. The court's sentencing decision is new; the existing case covers the earlier stage.
convicted, Philip Sullivan, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip Sullivan