Ireland Case No. 16789Sexual assault (child sexual abuse) · Co. Offaly
Ronan O'Grady jailed for two years over sexual abuse of niece in Offaly
Ronan O'Grady, 33, of Hosack Road, London, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece, Keely O'Grady, 26, at various locations in Co. Offaly on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008, when she was aged six to nine and he was 13 to 17. On Friday, June 28, 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott jailed him for two years, reducing an eight-year headline sentence to three years and six months because he was a juvenile at the time, then to two years after mitigating factors. No part of the sentence was suspended, and it was backdated to the Monday he went into custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Jun
5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ronan O'Grady, 33, pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece, Keely O'Grady, 26.
- The offences involved inappropriate touching, forcing the victim to perform oral sex and showing her pornography.
- Where
- The offences took place mainly at the victim's grandparents' home in Mucklagh, Co. Offaly, where O'Grady was living with his parents at the time.
- The offences took place at various locations in Co. Offaly, and one source says some also occurred at the victim's own home in Tullamore.
- When
- The offences were committed on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008.
- The victim was aged between six and nine at the time, and O'Grady was aged between 13 and 17.
- Investigation
- On one occasion a friend of O'Grady hid in a wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone.
- The victim contacted her uncle on social media to say she remembered what he had done.
- Charges
- O'Grady maintained his innocence until his trial was about to start, when he pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexual assault.
- In court
- Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced O'Grady on Friday, June 28, 2024, and the judge accepted he had no previous convictions.
- A Probation Services report assessed O'Grady as low risk of re-offending but found he had shown little insight or remorse.
- Sentence
- The headline sentence of eight years was reduced to three years and six months because he was a juvenile at the time, then to two years after mitigating factors including his guilty pleas.
- The judge declined to suspend any part of the two-year sentence, which was backdated to the Monday O'Grady went into custody.
- Other details
- The victim waived her right to anonymity so her uncle could be named, said the abuse began about 20 years ago, and called for more protection for child abuse victims.
54 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRonan O'Grady pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece. (rte.ie)
- whatThe abuse involved inappropriate touching, forcing the victim to perform oral sex and showing her pornography. (rte.ie)
- whatThe man pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA man sexually abused his young niece when he was a teenager over a prolonged time. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatRonan O'Grady pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece, Keely O'Grady. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe assaults happened at the girl's grandparents' home. (rte.ie)
- whereThe abuse occurred mainly at the girl's grandparents' home. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at various locations in Offaly. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe abuse occurred primarily at the girl's grandparents' home. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe abuse occurred primarily at the grandparents' home in Mucklagh. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereSome of the abuse also occurred at the victim's own home in Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at various locations in Co. Offaly. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe abuse occurred primarily at the victim's grandparents' home in Mucklagh. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on dates between 2004 and 2008. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe offences were committed on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe victim was aged between six and nine at the time, while O'Grady was aged between 13 and 17. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe victim contacted her uncle on social media to say she remembered what he had done. (rte.ie)
- chargeO'Grady pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge accepted that O'Grady had no previous convictions and was not at risk of future offending. (rte.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced the man. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtHe pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him on Friday, June 28. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtHe had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced O'Grady. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceRonan O'Grady was jailed for two years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe man was jailed for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced an eight-year headline sentence to three years and six months because the man was underage at the time. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to two years after mitigating factors, including no previous convictions and guilty pleas. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge declined to suspend any part of the sentence. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to the day the man went into custody. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to two years in prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the headline sentence because he was underage at the time of the offending. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceO'Grady was jailed for two years. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the headline sentence to three years and six months because O'Grady was a juvenile at the time of the offending. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to the Monday when O'Grady went into custody. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the headline sentence to two years, taking mitigating factors into account. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to the Monday O'Grady went into custody. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherOn one occasion, a friend hid in a wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge noted the victim endured severe anxiety and depression along with suicidal thoughts. (rte.ie)
- otherThe victim was aged between six and nine at the time of the offences. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe man was aged between 13 and 17 at the time of the offences. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe man had no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe man maintained his innocence until his trial was about to start, when he entered guilty pleas. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherA friend of the man recorded some of the abuse on a phone. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe abuse continued for a prolonged period, from when O'Grady was 13 until he was 17. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherA friend of O'Grady recorded some of the abuse on a phone. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim said it has been 20 years since the abuse began. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherO'Grady has no previous convictions and was assessed as at low risk of re-offending. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim waived her right to anonymity so her uncle could be named. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe victim called for more protection for child abuse victims in Ireland. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherA Probation Services report found O'Grady had demonstrated little insight or remorse. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherO'Grady had no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jun2024Victim waives anonymity to name uncle who sexually abused her when she was a child
Reports the sentencing of O'Grady at the Central Criminal Court, the sentence reductions and suspension decision, the victim's named statements, and the family and support context. No existing case matches.
convicted, Ronan O'Grady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ronan O'Gradyvictim, Keely O'Grady, 26, female, irish (judged from name)Keely O'Grady - 28 Jun2024Victim waives anonymity to name uncle who sexually abused her in Offaly
Reports the sentencing of O'Grady at the Central Criminal Court, the two-year sentence with no part suspended, the victim's waiver of anonymity and her statements calling for better child protection.
convicted, Ronan O'Grady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ronan O'Gradyvictim, Keely O'Grady, 26, female, irish (judged from name)Keely O'Grady - 28 Jun2024'Talented' and 'well-educated' Midlands man jailed for abusing niece
Reports the sentence of two years imposed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, the mitigating factors, and the victim's impact statement. The offences were committed in Offaly between June 2004 and June 2008.
convicted, 33, malevictim, 26, female - 28 Jun2024'I have lost family' - Man jailed for sex abuse of niece in Offaly as victim hits out
Reports the guilty plea, victim impact statements, the sentencing judge's reasoning and the two-year sentence imposed at the Central Criminal Court.
convicted, 33, malevictim, 26, female - 28 Jun2024Man jailed for two years for sexually abusing niece
RTÉ report of the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court: two-year sentence, guilty plea, victim impact statement, and the judge's remarks.
victim, Keely O'Grady, 26, female, irish (judged from name)Keely O'Gradyconvicted, Ronan O'Grady, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ronan O'Grady