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. 6885Sexual assault · Co. Sligo · 26 Dec 2021

Teenager given 16 months detention over sexual assault of cousin in Sligo

A teenager attempted to upload to YouTube a video of him sexually assaulting his eight-year-old cousin at their grandparents' home in Sligo on St Stephen's Day 2021. YouTube alerted the authorities, a detective said this led to the accused being identified, and specialist gardaí interviewed the girl in March 2022. The now 16-year-old pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges, including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and production of child pornography. In December 2023, Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed 16 months of detention followed by 16 months of Probation Service supervision, deferred the start of the detention, and directed him to present himself at the Criminal Courts of Justice on January 11th.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The teenager pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges, including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and production of child pornography.
Where
The offences took place at the children's grandparents' home in Sligo.
When
The offences took place on St Stephen's Day 2021.
Other details
  • The victim is an eight-year-old girl and the accused's cousin; the case record lists the victim as a woman, aged 8.
  • The accused was 14 at the time of the offences and is now 16; the case record lists him as a man, aged 16.
  • A probation report noted that the boy had been exposed to pornography from the age of 12.
Cause
The teenager attempted to upload a video of the assault to YouTube, which led to the offence coming to light.
Investigation
  • YouTube alerted the authorities and provided the email addresses linked to the account, which a detective said led to the accused being identified.
  • The girl was interviewed by specialist gardaí in March 2022.
In court
  • The judge said the aggravating features included the victim's age, the age difference, the impact of the offending and the breach of trust.
  • The judge said she would have set a headline sentence of 12 years had the accused been an adult, but reduced it to four years because of his age.
  • The judge deferred the start of the detention and directed him to present himself at the Criminal Courts of Justice on January 11th.
Sentence
The teenager was given 16 months of detention, to be followed by 16 months of supervision by the Probation Service.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe teenager pleaded guilty to three charges including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and production of child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at the children's grandparents' home in Sligo. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences took place on St Stephen's Day 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe teenager attempted to upload a video of the assault to YouTube, which led to the offence coming to light. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationYouTube alerted the authorities and provided the email addresses linked to the account. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe detective said the YouTube information led to the accused being identified. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe girl was interviewed by specialist gardaí in March 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the aggravating features included the victim's age, the age difference, the impact of the offending and the breach of trust. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said she would have set a headline sentence of 12 years had the accused been an adult, but reduced it to four years because of his age. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge deferred the start of the detention and directed him to present himself at the Criminal Courts of Justice on January 11th. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe teenager was handed 16 months of detention. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe detention was to be followed by 16 months of supervision by the Probation Service. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA probation report noted that the boy had been exposed to pornography from the age of 12. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Teenager given detention after attempting to upload video to YouTube of him sexually assaulting cousin (8)

    Sentencing report: the teenager pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges, was given 16 months of detention with 16 months of Probation Service supervision, and the detention start was deferred. The offending came to light after YouTube alerted authorities to an attempted upload of the video.

    convicted, 16, malevictim, 8, female