Wednesday 28 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. 6791Sexual assault and rape · Co. Dublin

Relatives give evidence for defence in trial of woman accused of sexually abusing younger cousin

A woman, now 20 and not named for legal reasons, is on trial in Dublin over alleged sexual abuse of her younger cousin, a girl who was aged 10 to 11 at the time, at various addresses between July 2017 and July 2019 when the accused was 12 to 14. She has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape, the latter relating to alleged penetration with a hairbrush. The accused took the stand the week before 7 April 2025 and denied the allegations. On 7 April 2025, defence relatives including the grandmother, aunts, uncles and the accused's mother gave evidence, and the trial is ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court7 Apr
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The complainant is a girl who was aged 10 to 11 at the time of the alleged offending.
  • The accused is a woman, aged 20 at the time of reporting, who was aged 12 to 14 at the time of the alleged offending.
  • The jury was told the alleged abuse started before the accused turned 12, but no charges relate to that period because of the age of criminal responsibility.
  • The grandmother told the court the girls never slept over together in her house, while an aunt said the two girls had just one sleepover, when another niece was present and she stayed in the room.
Where
The alleged offending took place at various addresses in Dublin.
When
The alleged offending occurred between July 2017 and July 2019.
Weapon
The section 4 rape charge relates to alleged penetration of the girl with a hairbrush.
Charges
The accused has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape.
Other details
  • The accused took the stand the week before 7 April 2025 and denied the allegations.
  • Aunts, uncles and the accused's mother gave evidence for the defence that the two girls were not particularly friendly when growing up.
In court
Defence relatives gave evidence on 7 April 2025 and the trial is ongoing.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe complainant was aged between 10 and 11 at the time of the alleged offending. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused was aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the alleged offending. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe grandmother told the court the girls never slept over together in her house. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe aunt said the two girls had just one sleepover when another niece was present and she stayed in the room. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe jury was told the alleged abuse started before the accused turned 12, but no charges relate to that period due to age of criminal responsibility. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offending occurred between July 2017 and July 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe section 4 rape charge relates to alleged penetration with a hairbrush. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is ongoing. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Apr2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Mutual relatives give evidence in defence of woman accused of sexually abusing younger cousin

    Defence relatives (grandmother, aunts, uncles, accused's mother) give evidence denying sleepovers; accused took stand last week denying allegations; trial continues.

    accused, 20, female, irish (judged from name)victim, 10-11, female, irish (judged from name)