Sunday 1 November 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. 0940Rape, sexual assault · Co. Galway

Teenage boy on trial for rape and sexual assault in Galway

A 16-year-old boy from a housing estate in County Galway is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl he had been dating for a few weeks. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between June and July 2023, after which the girl sent her mother a Snapchat message on 7 July 2023 saying the boy had raped her. She was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit where bruising inside her vagina was found, and the boy met with gardaí by arrangement and denied any sexual interaction. He pleaded not guilty to four charges and the trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Sep
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The complainant alleged the accused got on top of her, pushed her shorts aside and shoved his penis into her vagina, and that he performed oral rape on her on separate occasions.
  • The complainant sent her mother a Snapchat message on 7 July 2023 saying the accused had raped her, that it had been going on a while, and that he would hit her.
  • The complainant was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit where bruising inside her vagina was found, and she reported bleeding, a burning sensation, and bruising on her legs and chest caused by the accused pinching and biting her.
  • The accused denied that any sexual interaction had taken place between them.
Where
The incidents are alleged to have occurred in a housing estate in County Galway where both children were living with their families.
When
The incidents are alleged to have occurred between June and July 2023.
Investigation
The accused met with gardaí by arrangement some time after the incidents.
Charges
The accused faces four charges: three of sexual assault involving oral rape and one of rape.
In court
The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
Other details
  • The accused was 14 at the time of the incidents and is now 16; the complainant was 13 at the time.
  • The complainant told gardaí she had been dating the accused since June 2023, about three weeks before the alleged rape.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe incidents occurred in a County Galway housing estate where both children were living with their families. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incidences occurred in a Co Galway housing estate where both children were living with their families. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incidents are alleged to have occurred between June and July 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred between June and July 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA video of an interview the girl had with specialist gardaí in July 2023 was played to the jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe complainant was examined in her local sexual assault treatment unit where bruising inside her vagina was discovered. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe boy faces four charges: three of sexual assault involving oral rape and one of rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe boy pleaded not guilty to four charges at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThree of the charges are for sexual assault involving oral rape. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeOne charge is for rape of the then 13-year-old girl. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAnne Rowland SC is prosecuting. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is continuing before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused was 14 at the time of the incidents. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe girl sent her mother photographs of bruising on her legs. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused caused some of the bruising by pinching the complainant. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe girl told gardaí that the accused got on top of her, pushed her shorts aside and shoved his penis into her vagina. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe girl said she was bleeding and felt a burning when she went to the toilet after the rape. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused met gardaí by arrangement and denied that any sexual interaction had taken place. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe boy pleaded not guilty to all four charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant was present in court via video-link. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused was 14 years old at the time of the offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girl had been dating the accused since June 2023, about three weeks before the alleged rape. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girl told gardaí the rape happened on a Tuesday and she told her mother via Snapchat on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girl described the accused getting on top of her, pushing her shorts aside and shoving his penis into her vagina. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girl described the accused grabbing her head and shoving it down to his penis for oral sex on two other occasions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girl sent her mother photographs of bruising on her legs and a bruise on her left breast. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girl agreed the accused caused some bruising by pinching her and a bruise on her left breast by biting her through her top. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe complainant was examined at a local sexual assault treatment unit where bruising inside her vagina was discovered. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused met with gardaí by arrangement and denied any sexual interaction had taken place. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Sep2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Teenage boy goes on trial charged with rape of girl he had been dating

    The trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court. The complainant gave evidence via video-link. The accused met with gardaí and denied any sexual interaction. The complainant was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit where bruising inside her vagina was found.

    accused, 16, malevictim, 13, female
  2. 30 Sep2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Teenage boy goes on trial charged with rape of teenage girl in Galway

    Reports the opening of the trial, including the prosecution's opening address, the Snapchat message, the complainant's video-link evidence, and the accused's denial.

    accused, 16, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 13, female, irish (judged from name)