Ireland Case No. 3768Sexual assault · Co. Dublin · 1 Feb 2023
Ronaldo Otto jailed for five years for sexual assault of 20-year-old autistic man in Dublin
Ronaldo Otto, 63, a sex offender originally from the Philippines who goes by the name Samantha, was sentenced to five years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a 20-year-old autistic man on a Dublin Bus in February 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court20 Feb
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe State agreed to pay approximately €60,000 in damages plus legal costs to the assault victim (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man was assaulted by a group of people outside his Dublin home in July 2015 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man suffered a significant eye injury resulting in permanent partial loss of vision and other physical injuries (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man claimed mental distress and anxiety (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man was dismissed by his employer due to absence from work following the assault and was unemployed when he applied for compensation in October 2015 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal awarded the man €645 for out-of-pocket expenses (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe tribunal award covered replacement of driving licence, spectacles, medicine, hospital costs and travel expenses (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Irish compensation scheme was established in 1974 and amended in 1986 to exclude general damages including pain and suffering (irishtimes.com)
- whatJust over €10 million was paid to 203 victims under the compensation scheme in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whatOtto pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 20-year-old autistic man on 1 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injured party had been diagnosed with autism and ADHD as a child. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant uses a disability card for the bus that Otto would have seen. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOtto began groping the complainant on his leg and crotch area. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim felt he could not leave because Otto threatened him. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident began on a bus where Otto followed the complainant upstairs and sat beside him. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCCTV from Dublin Bus allowed gardaí to identify Otto. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man took High Court proceedings in August 2019 arguing the compensation scheme was incompatible with EU law (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe European Court of Justice ruled that the exclusion of pain and suffering compensation under the Irish scheme is precluded by the 2004 directive (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe jailed Otto for five years commencing on the lawful expiration of the sentences for sexual assault and assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was born in Spain but resides in Ireland (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Government is committed to reforming the compensation scheme including putting it on a statutory footing (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Law Reform Commission is expected to report next month on the broader topic of victim compensation (irishtimes.com)
- otherOtto is originally from the Philippines. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOtto is transitioning to female and goes by the first name Samantha. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim has felt depressed ever since the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOtto had previously been subjected to a robbery and a serious assault. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOtto was biologically male but had augmented breasts and was taking hormones. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn October 2020, Otto was given a three-year fully suspended sentence for throwing a cup of boiling water on a man in a casino in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSix months of that suspended term was reactivated in July 2025 after Otto was convicted of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old in a laneway in October 2022. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Feb2026Sex offender who assaulted vulnerable young man jailed for five years
Sentencing report: Judge Orla Crowe jailed Otto for five years, noting no expression of remorse besides a guilty plea for 'predatory, intimidating behaviour.' The sentence commences after the expiration of prior sentences for sexual assault and assault causing harm.
victim, 20, maleconvicted, Ronaldo Otto, 63, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ronaldo Otto - 20 Feb2026Violent crime victims to receive increased State compensation after European court ruling
Reports the High Court resolution of the man's challenge to the compensation scheme, the ECJ ruling on incompatibility with the 2004 EU directive, the State's agreement to pay ~€60,000 in damages, and the Government's commitment to reform the scheme.
victim, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male