Ireland Case No. 3385Sexual abuse (rape, sexual assault, indecent assault) · Co. Sligo
Sligo father sentenced to 20 years for sexually abusing five children
Noel Farrell, a 70-year-old man from Rathedmond Estate, Sligo, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to sample counts of sexual abuse against his four daughters and one son at various addresses in County Sligo between 1979 and 1997. The abuse, which included rape, sexual assault and indecent assault, saw the children locked in a room for days without food and forced to drink urine. A formal complaint was made to gardaí in 2019, and Farrell was voluntarily interviewed in March 2022, where he denied the allegations. On 20 February 2026, Judge Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court sentenced Farrell to 20 years in prison, reduced from a headline sentence of 30 years, with no post-release supervision order imposed.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Feb
6 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Noel Farrell, 70, pleaded guilty to sample counts of sexual abuse against his four daughters and one son at various addresses in County Sligo between 1979 and 1997.
- The abuse included rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, inappropriate touching and digital penetration, and the children were locked in a room for days without food and forced to drink urine.
- Where
- The abuse took place at various addresses in County Sligo, and Farrell is of Rathedmond Estate, Sligo.
- When
- The abuse took place between 1979 and 1997, with the victims aged between two and 17 (one source states three and 17), and the last offence was the rape of a daughter aged 17 in March 1997.
- Investigation
- A formal complaint was made to gardaí in 2019, and Farrell was voluntarily interviewed in March 2022, where he denied all allegations.
- The Health Board had concerns about sexual misconduct reported in 1989.
- Charges
- Farrell initially faced 109 counts but pleaded guilty to three counts of rape against three of his daughters and 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault relating to all five complainants.
- In court
- The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where Judge Tony Hunt noted a lack of mitigating factors apart from the guilty plea.
- Sentence
- Farrell was sentenced to 20 years in prison, reduced from a headline sentence of 30 years, with no post-release supervision order imposed.
- Other details
- The five victims waived their right to anonymity so Farrell could be named publicly.
- Farrell will be registered as a sex offender.
- Farrell and his late wife had serious issues with alcohol, and some of the children were taken into care in 1981.
76 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNoel Farrell pleaded guilty to sample counts of sexual abuse against his four daughters and one son. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whatNoel Farrell, 70, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse counts at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe five victims were aged between two and 17 during the periods of abuse (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe abuse included rape, sexual assault, inappropriate touching and digital penetration (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatChildren were locked in a room for days without food (irishtimes.com)
- whatChildren were forced to drink urine to survive (irishtimes.com)
- whatSome of the children were taken into care in 1981 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatFarrell and his late wife had serious issues with alcohol (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter the marriage broke down, Farrell went to England (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man sexually abused five of his children, when they were between the ages of three and 17. (rte.ie)
- whatNoel Farrell, 70, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing five of his children at various addresses in Co. Sligo over two decades. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe children were locked in a room for days at a time without food and forced to drink urine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe fourth daughter was raped when she was 17 in March 1997. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHelen was aged between four and six-and-a-half when the abuse took place. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJessica was first abused when she was around three and a half years old in an aunt's house. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJessica was taken into a room at a relative's house and sexually abused. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer father offered her money for sweets so she would stay quiet. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJessica went into foster care aged four. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFarrell falsely told Jessica he had already served two years behind bars for the abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe children were often locked in a room for days at a time without food. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOn special occasions like Christmas the children did not receive presents. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe abuse included rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatChristopher said it took him nearly 40 years to figure out the abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe abuse took place at various addresses in Co. Sligo. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whereFarrell is of Rathedmond Estate, Sligo. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe abuse took place in different locations in County Sligo across two decades. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe five victims were aged between two and 17 during the abuse. (thejournal.ie)
- whenFarrell raped one daughter when she was 17, in March 1997. (thejournal.ie)
- whenHe has been in custody since pleading guilty in November (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fourth daughter was raped at 17 in March 1997 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse took place between 1979 and 1997. (rte.ie)
- whenThe abuse took place over two decades. (rte.ie)
- whenFarrell pleaded guilty to indecent assault against his eldest daughter Amanda between 1979 and 1981. (rte.ie)
- whenJessica was three-and-a-half when her father started to abuse her. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenChristopher was aged one-and-a-half when their father first abused him. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA formal complaint was made to gardai in 2019. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFarrell was voluntarily interviewed in March 2022 and denied all the allegations against him. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- investigationThe health board had concerns about sexual misconduct reported in 1989 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Sergeant Diarmuid Fearon gave evidence in December (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA formal complaint was made to gardaí in 2019. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe Health Board had concerns about sexual misconduct that were reported in some form in 1989. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFarrell was voluntarily interviewed in March 2022 and denied all the allegations. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFarrell initially faced 109 counts and pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeFarrell also pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting his son Christopher. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe initially faced 109 counts (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to three counts of rape against three of his daughters (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault relating to all five complainants (irishtimes.com)
- chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to three counts of rape against three of his daughters. (rte.ie)
- chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault relating to all five complainants. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe abuse of the children included rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. (rte.ie)
- chargeFarrell initially faced 109 counts but pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and 19 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting his son Christopher. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual abuse against his four daughters and one son. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFarrell pleaded guilty to the rape and indecent assault of Jessica. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge noted a lack of mitigating factors apart from the guilty plea. (thejournal.ie)
- courtFarrell has been in custody since he pleaded in early November. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Tony Hunt delivered the sentence (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe five victims waived their right to anonymity so their father could be named. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentencing was handed down by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceFarrell was jailed for 20 years. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 30 years and reduced it to 20 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said there was no need for a post-release supervision order because Farrell would be extremely elderly on release. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to 20 years in prison, reduced from a headline sentence of 30 years (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceNo post-release supervision order was imposed (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFarrell was sentenced to 20 years in jail. (rte.ie)
- sentenceNoel Farrell was jailed for 20 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFour of the five children wished to waive their right to anonymity (irishtimes.com)
- otherFarrell made no visible reaction as the sentence was imposed (irishtimes.com)
- otherFarrell initially faced 109 counts. (rte.ie)
- otherFarrell will be registered as a sex offender. (rte.ie)
- otherFarrell has a significant history of alcoholism and has been sober for several years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHis last offence was in 1997 and he has been in custody since pleading in early November. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFour of the five children waived their right to anonymity; the fifth did not wish to be named but wished for Farrell to be named. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe children waived their right to anonymity so Farrell could be named publicly. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Apr2026Woman raped by Irish dad aged three and forced to drink urine forgives monster
Victims Jessica and Christopher Farrell speak on Virgin Media News about their complex feelings following their father's 20-year sentence, with Jessica saying she has forgiven him and Christopher saying he does not.
victim, Jessica Farrell, 48, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, Christopher Farrell, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher Farrellvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Amanda Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Amanda Farrellconvicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrell - 21 Feb2026Dad who sexually abused 5 of his kids and forced them to drink urine jailed
Sentencing report: Mr Justice Tony Hunt set a headline sentence of 30 years reduced to 20 years, noting the extreme cruelty and gravity of the offending. Details of the abuse, victim impact statements, and background evidence are provided.
convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Amanda Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Amanda Farrellvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Jessica Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, Christopher Farrell, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher Farrellvictim, female - 20 Feb2026Justice after years of silence and pain, says daughter
Reports the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court, including victim impact statements from the siblings and that the victims waived anonymity.
convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Jessica Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female - 20 Feb2026Man who sexually abused his children jailed for 20 years
Historical abuse case (1979 to 1997) sentenced at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. No existing case in the list matches.
convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Jessica Farrell, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim - 20 Feb2026‘A grotesque breach’: Man jailed for 20 years for sexually abusing five of his children
Sentencing report. Judge Tony Hunt set a headline sentence of 30 years, reduced to 20 years for the guilty plea. The abuse spanned over two decades with the last offence in March 1997. Farrell has been in custody since pleading guilty in November 2025.
convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Amanda Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Amanda Farrellvictim, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Jessica Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, male, irish (judged from name)victim, female - 1 Feb2026'You took my life away': Five siblings speak after Sligo father gets 20 years for sexual abuse
Reports the sentencing of Noel Farrell, the court's reasoning, the counts he pleaded guilty to, the timeline of the abuse and the Garda investigation, and quotes from the victim impact statements.
convicted, Noel Farrell, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Farrellvictim, Amanda, female, irish (judged from name)Amandavictim, Helen, female, irish (judged from name)Helenvictim, Jessica Farrell, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Farrellvictim, Christopher Farrell, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher Farrellvictim, female