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. 3951Rape · Co. Dublin

Teen with autism and ADHD fails Court of Appeal challenge to stop rape trial

A teenager with autism and ADHD, accused of raping a 15-year-old girl when he was 15, had his Court of Appeal challenge to stop his trial rejected on 29 January 2026, following a High Court rejection in October 2025. The Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court that the public interest in prosecuting the offence outweighed the effect of the two-year delay in charging.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe teenager has autism and ADHD. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is accused of raping a girl when he was 15. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe alleged victim was also 15 at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe alleged victim made a complaint straight after the alleged incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused was told of the complaint by a relative and then told his mother, who brought him to a Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe trial date was three years after the alleged offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí conducted an investigation and interviews. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was charged in December 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA trial date was set for June 2025 in the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn October, the High Court found there had been blameworthy prosecutorial delay but the public interest in prosecuting was very strong. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court said the accused had not established that his vulnerabilities were caused or exacerbated significantly by the delay. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Charles Meenan, on behalf of the three-judge Court of Appeal, rejected the appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal agreed the High Court had carried out the correct balancing exercise. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was found unsuitable to be dealt with under the juvenile liaison scheme. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe High Court noted the accused would retain his anonymity and have the benefit of provisions regarding sentencing of children. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Teen fails in High Court action to stop trial on charge of raping 15-year-old

    Court of Appeal (Mr Justice Charles Meenan, three-judge panel) dismissed the teenager's appeal against the High Court's October 2025 decision, agreeing the High Court had carried out the correct balancing exercise between the blameworthy prosecutorial delay and the public interest in prosecution.

    accused, 15 (at time of offence), malevictim, 15 (at time of offence), female