Saturday 31 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. 18268Sexual assault · Co. Roscommon

Sentence for man who sexually assaulted teen babysitter reduced on appeal

A jury unanimously convicted Michael King on all 12 counts of sexual assault against a girl who was 16 at the time. The abuse took place at locations in Roscommon over a nine-month period ending in September 2005, and a complaint about it was made in 2020. King was arrested in 2021, and in May 2023 Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court jailed him for five and a half years. The latest development, reported on 15 February 2024, is that the Court of Appeal reduced his sentence, though sources differ on whether the term was cut by 15 months or re-set to five years with the final nine months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A jury unanimously convicted Michael King on all charges of sexual assault.
Where
King abused the girl at locations in Roscommon.
When
The abuse occurred over a nine-month period ending in September 2005.
Other details
  • The girl was 16 years old at the time of the offending.
  • The girl waived her right to anonymity so King could be publicly named.
Investigation
  • A complaint about the 2005 offences was made in 2020.
  • King was arrested in 2021.
Charges
King pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts of sexual assault.
In court
  • In May 2023 Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court jailed King for five and a half years for 12 counts of sexual assault.
  • The Court of Appeal decision was reported on 15 February 2024.
Sentence
  • The Court of Appeal reduced King's sentence; one source says the jail term was cut by 15 months, while another says he was re-sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended.
  • The last nine months of the re-sentence were suspended for two years.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA jury unanimously convicted Michael King on all charges of sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereKing abused the girl at locations in Roscommon. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe abuse occurred over a nine-month period ending in September 2005. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe complaint about the 2005 offences was made in 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationKing was arrested in 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtIn May 2023 Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court jailed King for five and a half years for 12 counts of sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe Court of Appeal cut King's jail term by 15 months. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceKing was re-sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe last nine months of the sentence were suspended for two years. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim was 16 years old at the time of the offending. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victim waived her right to anonymity so King could be publicly named. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Feb2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man who repeatedly sexually assaulted teen babysitter has 5.5-year sentence reduced

    Reports the Court of Appeal reducing King's sentence by 15 months after a jury convicted him on all 12 counts; the sentence was originally imposed in May 2023.

    convicted, Michael King, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Kingvictim, Tara Kelly, 16, female, irish (judged from name)Tara Kelly