Wednesday 28 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. 6131Indecent assault

Teacher's conviction for indecently assaulting pupil upheld on appeal

Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, a 64-year-old woman, was a secondary school teacher who indecently assaulted a 13-year-old boy twice in his home in 1985 while giving him grinds. She pleaded not guilty but was found guilty at a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023 and sentenced to three years on each count concurrently, with the final six months suspended. On 19 December 2024 the Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal, ruling that the jury was properly allowed to hear that she told the boy about her own alleged assault as part of a grooming process.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • She indecently assaulted the boy twice while giving him grinds.
  • She was a secondary school teacher, aged 24 at the time, and the boy was 13.
When
The assaults took place between June 1 and September 1, 1985.
Where
The assaults took place in the boy's home.
Cause
The Court of Appeal ruled that she told the boy about her own alleged sexual assault as part of a grooming process.
Charges
She pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a male student in 1985.
In court
  • She was found guilty at a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal on 19 December 2024.
Sentence
She was sentenced to three years on each count, concurrent, with the final six months suspended.
Other details
  • The victim, now in his fifties, said in a victim impact statement that she had hung over his whole life like a spectre.
  • She is from The Mullins, Donegal Town.
  • Her name is spelled Jacinta McSherry O'Connor in the article text and Jacintha McSherry O'Connor in a photo caption.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe indecently assaulted the boy on two occasions in his home while giving him grinds. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatShe was aged 24 at the time and the boy was 13. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe assaults took place on dates between June 1 and September 1, 1985. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeShe pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a male student in 1985. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtShe was found guilty at a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial in October 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceShe was sentenced to three years on each count concurrently, with the final six months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim, now in his fifties, said in a victim impact statement that she had been like a spectre hanging over him his whole life. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherShe is from The Mullins, Donegal Town. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Dec2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Teacher who indecently assaulted pupil used her own alleged assault in grooming

    Court of Appeal ruling dismissing McSherry O'Connor's appeal, confirming that evidence of her telling the boy about her own alleged assault was properly admitted as evidence of grooming.

    victim, 13, maleconvicted, Jacinta McSherry O'Connor, 64, female, named, irish (judged from name)Jacinta McSherry O'Connor