Ireland Six men on trial for sexual abuse of deaf relative face closing speeches in Central Criminal Court
Six men, aged between 32 and 55, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on charges of sexual abuse of a deaf relative, the main complainant, who is their niece and sister. The men are her three uncles and three younger brothers, and the alleged abuse is said to have taken place between 1995 and 2014, with 20 charges in total, 16 of them relating to the main complainant. One of the younger brothers, Accused C, is charged with 10 counts involving the main complainant and two younger sisters after the DPP withdrew a number of his original 45 counts, and he has pleaded not guilty to some counts and denied others. The trial, before Justice Caroline Biggs, is ongoing, with closing speeches for Accused C beginning on 5 May 2026, and no verdict or sentence has been reported.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 May
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The six accused men are aged between 32 and 55 and are the main complainant's three uncles and three younger brothers.
- The main complainant is deaf and vulnerable.
- The main complainant alleged that Accused C raped her when she was seven and he was four.
- The main complainant alleged that Accused C forced sex with her in their garden when she was 11 and he was 8.
- Complainant 3 told the court she did not know her older brother at all.
- When
- The alleged abuse is said to have occurred over a 19-year period between 1995 and 2014.
- Charges
- The six men face a combined total of 20 charges, 16 of which relate to the main complainant.
- Accused C is charged with 10 counts relating to the sexual abuse of the main complainant and two younger sisters; he was originally charged with 45 counts, but the DPP withdrew a number of them.
- Accused C pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape and one count of sexual assault against the main complainant between 2003 and 2010.
- Accused C denied one count of sexual assault on Complainant 2 between 2005 and 2006, and pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape of Complainant 2 between 2015 and 2018.
- Accused C denied one count of anal rape of Complainant 3 between 2010 and 2014.
- In court
- The trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court and is presided over by Justice Caroline Biggs.
- Investigation
- Closing speeches continued on 5 May 2026, with Karl Finnegan SC outlining the case for Accused C to the jury.
- Other details
- None of the parties can be named for legal reasons.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe six accused men are aged between 32 and 55 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe six accused are the main complainant's three uncles and three younger brothers (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main complainant alleged Accused C raped her when she was seven and he was four (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main complainant alleged Accused C forced sex with her in their garden when she was 11 and he was 8 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main complainant is deaf and vulnerable (irishtimes.com)
- whatComplainant 3 told the court she did not know her older brother at all (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged abuse occurred over a 19-year period between 1995 and 2014 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe six men face a combined total of 20 charges (irishtimes.com)
- charge16 of the 20 charges pertain to the main complainant who is deaf (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C is charged with 10 counts relating to sexual abuse of the main complainant and two younger sisters (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C was originally charged with 45 counts, but a number were withdrawn by the DPP (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape and one count of sexual assault against the main complainant between 2003 and 2010 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C denied one count of sexual assault on Complainant 2 between 2005 and 2006 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping Complainant 2 between 2015 and 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAccused C denied one count of anally raping Complainant 3 between 2010 and 2014 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtJustice Caroline Biggs is presiding over the trial (irishtimes.com)
- otherNone of the parties can be named for legal reasons (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 May2026‘Devastating problem’ for prosecution as man accused of rape when he was four, court hears
Covers closing speeches for Accused C, highlighting the prosecution's difficulty with the complainant's allegation that he raped her at age four, the defence's cross-examination of the three complainants, and the withdrawal of numerous charges by the DPP.
victim, femaleaccused, malevictim, femalevictim, female