Thursday 29 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. 7339Sexual offences against a child (defilement) · Co. Dublin

Prosecutor tells jury accused's account of Dublin defilement offences is 'unbelievable'

Reports dated 17 October 2023 describe two different cases, and the case header merges them. Irish Times and Irish Mirror reports describe a man, 40, described as Irish, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010, when he was 27. A separate Irish Times report describes Jacintha McSherry O'Connor (63) of The Mullins, Donegal Town, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy at locations in Dublin between June 1 and September 1, 1985. In closing speeches on Tuesday 17 October 2023, prosecuting counsel called the man's account unbelievable, and the defence said it had objective, independent evidence. The latest reports say the jury has started deliberations, and the trial resumes on Wednesday.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Oct
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Other details
  • Reports differ on the case: one describes a man accused of sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl, and another describes a woman accused of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old boy.
  • The complainant was 16 and the man was 27 at the time, while the woman was 24 or 25 and the boy was 13.
  • The man has denied any wrongdoing, and the prosecution says the conduct was a form of grooming of a child.
What happened
  • The State alleges the man put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once at his workplace and twice at his home.
  • Jacintha McSherry O'Connor is alleged to have indecently assaulted the boy twice at his home, where she had been giving him grinds, and to have had sexual contact with him on a family holiday in Spain.
Where
The man's alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin, and the woman's alleged offences occurred while she worked as a student teacher at a school in Dublin.
When
The man's alleged offences are dated between August and December 2010, and the woman's alleged offences are dated between June 1 and September 1, 1985.
Charges
  • The man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17.
  • Jacintha McSherry O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child.
In court
  • In her closing address on Tuesday 17 October 2023, prosecuting counsel Eilis Brennan told the jury the accused man's account was unbelievable and riddled with inconsistencies, and said consent is not a defence.
  • Defence counsel Morgan Shelley said the defence has objective, independent evidence, its position is that the acts did not take place, and it urged not guilty verdicts on both counts.
  • The defence argued that if any acts took place, the jury should accept the accused did not know the complainant was 17 until January 2011.
  • One report says the jury has started its deliberations, while another says the defence closing speech continues on Wednesday before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe State alleges the accused put his penis in the complainant's mouth on three occasions, once in his workplace and twice in his home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place at locations in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged incidents happened while the accused was a student teacher at a school in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereIt is alleged the accused indecently assaulted the boy twice at his home, where she had been giving him grinds. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereIt is alleged there was sexual contact on a holiday in Spain with the boy's family. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences are alleged to have taken place at locations in Dublin between August and December 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences were between August and December 2010. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place between June 1 and September 1, 1985. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 17. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtProsecuting counsel Eilis Brennan gave the closing address on Tuesday and said the jury had heard two radically different accounts of events. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution said the defence version was unbelievable and riddled with inconsistencies. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution said the complainant's version was coherent and the man's version makes no sense. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution said the man is not on trial for anything that happened after the complainant turned 17. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution said consent is not a defence, but a defence of honest belief that the complainant was 17 is possible. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence position is that the acts did not take place. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn his closing speech, defence counsel Morgan Shelley said the defence had objective, independent evidence backing its case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence closing speech continues on Wednesday before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury in the trial has started its deliberations. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution told the jury it should have no doubt in deciding the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence urged the jury to return not guilty verdicts on both counts. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury will resume its deliberations on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecuting counsel told the jury that the accused's version of events was unbelievable and riddled with inconsistencies. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution told the jury that the accused had crafted a narrative when faced with the complainant's compelling account. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution said the defence was trying to have it both ways by running a secondary line of defence about honest belief. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtIn his closing speech, the defence counsel said the defence had backed its case with objective, independent evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence argued the jury should accept that the accused did not know the complainant was 17 until January 2011 if they believed any acts took place. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence closing speech was to continue the following day before Judge Pauline Codd and the jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was 16 at the time and the man was 27. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man has denied any wrongdoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused was 63 and of The Mullins, Donegal Town. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution says the conduct was a form of grooming of a child. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant was 16 at the time, while the accused was 27. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused has denied any wrongdoing. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Oct2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Celeb defilement trial hears of 'inconsistencies'

    Reports the prosecution and defence closing speeches at the trial, including the prosecution's view of the accused's account and the defence's argument on honest belief about the complainant's age. Does not report a verdict.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female
  2. 17 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Jury in trial of teacher accused of indecently assaulting boy (13) in 1985 begins deliberations

    Reports that the jury has begun deliberating in the trial, and gives the closing speeches of prosecution and defence. Adds the accused's age and the alleged 1985 offence dates, locations and holiday in Spain.

    accused, Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, 63, female, named, irish (judged from name)Jacintha McSherry O'Connorvictim, 13 at the time of the alleged offences, male
  3. 17 Oct2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Broadcaster’s denials of defilement of 16-year-old girl ‘riddled with inconsistencies’, court hears

    Reports the closing speeches in the jury trial, not a verdict. The prosecution's closing address is set out in detail, and the defence closing is due to continue the following Wednesday before Judge Pauline Codd.

    accused, 40, malevictim, 16, female