Saturday 31 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. 21293Sexual offence (child sexual abuse) · Co. Tipperary

Tony Delaney speaks about childhood sexual abuse by Sean Nolan

Tony Delaney, a Tipperary businessman and former Toomevara hurler, said he was sexually abused as a boy by Sean Nolan, a club player, when he was 11. The abuse began at the back of a shed and continued in a room of Delaney's grandmother's house. Delaney reported it to gardaí in 2013, and Nolan was later sentenced to three years in jail, with the final year suspended, by Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court earlier in 2023. The latest development is Delaney's first-person account of the grooming and abuse on The Late Late Show, reported by Tipperary Live on 3 May 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Tony Delaney said he was sexually abused by Sean Nolan, a club player, when he was a boy.
Where
The abuse began at the back of a shed and continued in a room of Delaney's grandmother's house.
When
Delaney said he was groomed by Nolan when he was 11 years old.
Other details
  • Delaney said he contemplated ending his life in 2008 because of the effects of the abuse.
  • Delaney said he was 37 when he first disclosed the abuse.
  • Delaney described the grooming and abuse in a first-person account on The Late Late Show, as reported by Tipperary Live on 3 May 2023.
Investigation
Delaney reported the abuse to gardaí in 2013.
In court
Nolan was sentenced by Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court earlier in 2023.
Sentence
Nolan was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final year suspended.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTony Delaney said he was sexually abused by Sean Nolan, a club player, when he was a boy. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe abuse began at the back of a shed and continued in a room of Delaney's grandmother's house. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenDelaney said he was groomed by Nolan when he was 11. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationDelaney went to gardaí in 2013. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtNolan was sentenced to three years in jail, with the final year suspended, by Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherDelaney said he contemplated ending his life in 2008. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherDelaney said he was 37 when he first disclosed the abuse. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 May2023
    Sentencedtipperarylive.ie, first report
    Tipperary businessman and Toomevara hurler Tony Delaney opens up about sexual abuse

    Victim's first-person account on The Late Late Show, describing the grooming and abuse, his suicidal thoughts in 2008, and his 2013 report to gardaí. Confirms Nolan's sentence from Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court earlier in 2023.

    victim, Tony Delaney, 11 at the time of the abuse, male, irish (judged from name)Tony Delaneyconvicted, Sean Nolan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Nolan