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. 18093Physical abuse · Co. Kildare

Physical abuse of minor in Celbridge under Garda investigation

Gardaí in Kildare are investigating an alleged physical assault of a young girl by an adult known to the child at a hotel near Celbridge that houses International Protection applicants. The incident, first reported on 28 February 2024, is not being treated as a sexual crime, despite social media rumours that the girl was sexually assaulted by three men on the grounds of the facility. A demonstration attended by figures prominent in the anti-immigrant movement took place outside the hotel on Tuesday evening, during which officers were targeted with fireworks but no Gardaí were injured. An Garda Síochána is liaising with Tusla on the investigation and is also probing a number of individuals who attended the demonstration. No arrests or charges have been reported as of the latest coverage.

  1. Reported28 Feb
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí are investigating an alleged physical assault of a young girl by an adult known to the child at a hotel near Celbridge, Kildare.
  • The incident is not being treated as a sexual crime, although social media rumours claimed the girl was sexually assaulted by three men on the grounds of the facility.
Where
The hotel is near Celbridge and houses International Protection applicants.
When
The case was first reported on 28 February 2024, and a demonstration took place outside the hotel on Tuesday evening.
Investigation
  • An Garda Síochána is liaising with Tusla, the child and family agency, on the investigation.
  • Gardaí are not investigating any further allegations at this time.
  • Gardaí are investigating a number of individuals who attended the demonstration after fireworks were thrown at members of the force.
Other details
A demonstration attended by figures prominent in the anti-immigrant movement took place outside the hotel, during which officers were targeted with fireworks but no Gardaí were injured.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are investigating the alleged physical assault of a young girl by an individual at a hotel in Kildare (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe incident is not being treated as a sexual crime (thejournal.ie)
  • whatRumours on social media claimed the girl was violently sexually assaulted by three men on the grounds of the facility (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA demonstration took place outside the hotel on Tuesday evening (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe demonstration was attended by figures prominent in the anti-immigrant movement (thejournal.ie)
  • whatOfficers were targeted with fireworks during the demonstration (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNo Gardaí were injured during the protest (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe hotel is near Celbridge and houses International Protection applicants (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationInvestigators are liaising with Tusla, the child and family agency (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationAn Garda Síochána is not investigating any further allegations at this time (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating a number of individuals who attended the demonstration after fireworks were thrown at members of the force (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in Kildare are investigating an alleged incident of physical abuse against a minor by an adult known to the child. (gript.ie)
  • investigationAn Garda Síochána is liaising with TUSLA on the investigation. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are not investigating any further allegations at this time. (gript.ie)
  • otherProtests took place at a migrant accommodation centre in Celbridge after online rumours of a sexual assault on a child by multiple adult men. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Feb2024
    Reportedgript.ie, first report
    Gardai investigating incident of "physical abuse" of minor in Celbridge - Gript

    Initial confirmation by An Garda Síochána that they are investigating one incident of physical abuse of a minor in Celbridge, liaising with TUSLA, and not investigating any further allegations. Context notes recent protests at a migrant accommodation centre in Celbridge following online rumours of a sexual assault by multiple adult men.

    victimsuspect
  2. 28 Feb2024
    Reportedthejournal.ie, first report
    Gardaí probing alleged assault of girl in Kildare amid false online rumours of sexual crime

    First report of the alleged assault; clarifies the incident is physical rather than sexual; notes a protest outside the hotel and Gardaí inquiries into those present at the demonstration.

    victim, femalesuspect