Ireland Retired Defence Forces member jailed for 10 years for sexual abuse of daughter
Gerard Lawless (61), a retired Defence Forces member, was jailed for 10 years at the Central Criminal Court for sexually abusing his daughter, Danielle Lawless, at the family's home in Dublin. He pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape and seven counts of sexual assault committed between 1991 and 1998, when she was a child and the abuse ended when she was 12. Danielle Lawless told her mother about the abuse in 2018 and then complained to gardaí, who interviewed Lawless on a voluntary basis in 2019. The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the guilty plea before a trial that had been due the previous December. In May 2024 Lawless was given a global 10-year sentence, three years' post-release supervision and a no-contact order with the victim.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced10 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gerard Lawless pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape and seven counts of sexual assault.
- The abuse included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex.
- Where
- The offences took place at the family's then home in Dublin.
- When
- The offences occurred on dates between 1991 and 1998, and the abuse ended when the victim was 12.
- Investigation
- The victim told her mother about the abuse in 2018 and then made a complaint to gardaí.
- Lawless was interviewed on a voluntary basis by gardaí in 2019.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a guilty plea before the trial, which had been due the previous December.
- Sentence
- Lawless was given a global prison sentence of 10 years.
- Lawless must undergo three years of post-release supervision and have no contact with the victim, directly or indirectly.
- Other details
- Lawless has no previous convictions and retired from the Defence Forces in 2013 on medical grounds.
- Danielle Lawless waived her right to anonymity so that her father could be named, and she gave a victim impact statement.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGerard Lawless pleaded guilty to four counts of oral rape and seven counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe abuse included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at the family's home in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between 1991 and 1998. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe victim told her mother about the abuse in 2018 before making a complaint to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLawless was interviewed on a voluntary basis by gardaí in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA plea of guilty was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions before the trial, which had been due to take place the previous December. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceLawless was given a global prison sentence of 10 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceLawless must undergo three years of post-release supervision. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceLawless must have no contact with the victim, directly or indirectly. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLawless has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLawless retired from the Defence Forces in 2013 on medical grounds. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe abuse ended when the victim was 12. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 10 May2024Retired Defence Forces member who ‘groomed’ young daughter jailed for 10 years for sexual abuse
Reports the Central Criminal Court sentence of 10 years, three years' post-release supervision and a no-contact order. No existing case matched.
convicted, Gerard Lawless, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Lawlessvictim, Danielle Lawless, female, irish (judged from name)Danielle Lawless