Ireland Tullamore man sentenced to 17-and-a-half years for abusing former partner's children
Brendan Cornally, 51, of O'Brien Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly, was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting the three children of his former partner, Georgina Touhey, between 2012 and 2019, when they were aged between 10 and 15. He pleaded guilty, and in March 2025 Ms Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced him to a total of 17-and-a-half years, made up of ten years for the sexual abuse and rape of one son and a further 21 months for sexually assaulting the daughter, with the sentence for raping the other son bringing the total to 17-and-a-half years. The judge had said a global sentence of 20 years would be appropriate but suspended the final two and a half years. The latest development is that the DPP has 28 days to decide whether to appeal the sentence on grounds of undue leniency, and the mother has said the sentence would be appealed.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced10 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brendan Cornally was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting the three children of his former partner, Georgina Touhey.
- Where
- Cornally, 51, lives on O'Brien Street in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- When
- He abused the first son between 2015 and 2019, when the boy was aged 10 to 14.
- He raped the second son between April and August 2018, when the boy was 13.
- He sexually assaulted the daughter between May 2012 and June 2014, when she was aged 13 to 15.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the daughter.
- In court
- The judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, said a global sentence of 20 years would be appropriate but suspended the final two and a half years.
- The judge said the guilty plea was a very valuable mitigating factor.
- Sentence
- Cornally will serve a total of 17-and-a-half years.
- He was jailed for ten years for the sexual abuse and rape of one son.
- He was jailed for a further 21 months for sexually assaulting the daughter.
- Other details
- One child has been diagnosed with catatonia and hospitalised after a serious deterioration in the run-up to the trial.
- The mother said the harm was not reflected in the sentence and that the sentence would be appealed.
- The DPP has 28 days to decide whether to appeal the sentence on grounds of undue leniency.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting the children of his former partner. (rte.ie)
- whereThe accused lives on O'Brien Street in Tullamore, Co Offaly. (rte.ie)
- whenThe abuse of the first son took place between 2015 and 2019, when the boy was aged 10 to 14. (rte.ie)
- whenThe rape of the second son took place between April and August 2018, when the boy was 13. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said a global sentence of 20 years would be appropriate but suspended the final two and a half years. (rte.ie)
- courtThe guilty plea was a very valuable mitigating factor. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe will serve a total of 17-and-a-half years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe was jailed for ten years for the sexual abuse and rape of one son. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe was jailed for a further 21 months for sexually assaulting the other son's sister. (rte.ie)
- otherOne child has been diagnosed with catatonia and hospitalised after a serious deterioration in the run-up to the trial. (rte.ie)
- otherThe mother said the sentence would be appealed and that the harm was not reflected in it. (rte.ie)
- otherThe DPP has 28 days to decide whether to appeal on grounds of undue leniency. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Mar2025Woman criticises sentence of man who abused her children
Sentencing of Brendan Cornally at court, with the judge's reasoning, the victims' mother's criticism of the sentence, and the 28-day DPP appeal window.
convicted, Brendan Cornally, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brendan Cornallyvictim, malevictim, malevictim, female