Case No. 2717Indecent assault, attempted rape, rape · Co. Roscommon
Thomas Collins jailed for 11½ years over sexual abuse of three cousins in Roscommon
Thomas Collins, 59, a farmer from Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, was sentenced to 11½ years at the Central Criminal Court for the indecent assault, attempted rape, and rape of his three cousins between 1978 and 1992, after pleading guilty to 21 sample counts. The case was not prosecuted for 26 years after Collins made wholesale admissions to gardaí, with the DPP directing no prosecution in 2002.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced17 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCollins pleaded guilty to 21 sample counts of indecent assault, attempted rape, and rape (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe DPP directed that Collins not be prosecuted in 2002 (irishtimes.com)
- whatSgt Thomas Fitzmaurice of Roscommon garda station in 1997 had a personal connection to Collins (irishtimes.com)
- whatCollins has two previous convictions for sexual misconduct (irishtimes.com)
- whatCollins is currently serving a 9½-year sentence for sexually abusing another person (irishtimes.com)
- whatGretta Conlon and Catherine Conlon were aged three and six respectively when the abuse started (irishtimes.com)
- whatGerard Conlon was eight years old during the abuse (irishtimes.com)
- whereCollins is from The Fair Green, Frenchpark, Co Roscommon (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse occurred between 1978 and 1992 (irishtimes.com)
- whenCollins was charged in 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenCollins entered guilty pleas in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe sentencing was on Tuesday 17 December 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCollins was sentenced to 11½ years (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Dec2024Man jailed for 11 years over abuse of cousins, 26 years after first complaints
Reports the sentencing of Thomas Collins to 11½ years for sexual abuse of three cousins, detailing the 26-year delay in prosecution, the role of Sgt Thomas Fitzmaurice in discouraging complaints in 1997, the DPP's 2002 decision not to prosecute despite wholesale admissions, and victim impact statements from all three cousins.
convicted, Thomas Collins, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Collinsvictim, Gretta Conlon, female, irish (judged from name)Gretta Conlonvictim, Catherine Conlon, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine Conlonvictim, Gerard Conlon, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Conlon