Case No. 0755Sexual assault, attempted anal rape, assault causing harm · Co. Tipperary
Two convicted sex offenders jailed for attempted rape of man in Nenagh
Gary Byrne, 36, and James Reilly, 49, who are civil partners, were convicted in 2026 of sexually assaulting and attempting to anally rape a 19-year-old man in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, in 2016. The men assaulted the victim on the street and then at their home, where they gave him an intoxicant that left him unable to move before attempting anal rape. The victim made a formal complaint to gardai in the summer of 2023, and both men were arrested and interviewed in February 2024. Following a Central Criminal Court trial in Limerick, the judge sentenced each man to 11 years with the final year suspended on strict conditions and ordered no contact with the complainant.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced23 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Byrne and Reilly sexually assaulted the victim on the street by squeezing his buttocks over his jeans, then at their home gave him vodka and 7up that rendered him unable to move, after which Byrne attempted anal rape followed by Reilly.
- Where
- The incident took place on a street and at the men's home in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
- When
- The incident occurred in 2016.
- Investigation
- The victim made a formal complaint to gardai in the summer of 2023, and Byrne and Reilly were arrested and interviewed in February 2024.
- Charges
- The men were charged with sexual assault and attempted anal rape, and Reilly was also charged with assault causing harm.
- In court
- The men were convicted following a Central Criminal Court trial in Limerick in 2026.
- Sentence
- The judge imposed an 11-year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions (reported as 10 years in some coverage) and ordered that neither man have any contact directly or indirectly with the complainant.
- Other details
- Both men are currently serving prison sentences for the defilement of a teenage boy in 2020.
- Reilly has previous convictions for assault and engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child, while Byrne has convictions for sexual assault.
- The victim developed alcoholism, self-harm, multiple hospitalisations and made numerous suicide attempts following the assault.
- The DPP suggested the headline sentence for attempted anal rape should fall within the 10 to 15 year range.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatByrne and Reilly sexually assaulted the victim on the street by squeezing his buttocks over his jeans. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim was given a vodka and 7up that rendered him unable to move. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatByrne attempted to anally rape the victim, then Reilly did the same. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at the men's home in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred in 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe victim made a formal complaint to gardai in the summer of 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationByrne and Reilly were arrested and interviewed by gardai in February 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeReilly was also convicted of assault causing harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe men were convicted following a Central Criminal Court trial in Limerick earlier in 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed an 11-year sentence with the final year suspended on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge ordered that neither man was to have any contact directly or indirectly with the complainant at any time in the future. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBoth men are currently serving prison sentences for the defilement of a teenage boy in 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherReilly has previous convictions for assault and engaging in a sexual act in the presence of a child. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherByrne has convictions for sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim developed alcoholism, self-harm, multiple hospitalisations and made numerous suicide attempts following the assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe DPP suggested the headline sentence for attempted anal rape should fall within the 10 to 15 year range. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was 19 years old at the time of the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jun2026'Two monsters' - Convicted sex offenders jailed for attempted rape of man
Reports the sentencing of Byrne and Reilly, including the judge's remarks on aggravating and mitigating factors, the victim impact statement, details of the offending, and the post-release supervision conditions.
victim, 19, maleconvicted, Gary Byrne, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Byrneconvicted, James Reilly, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Reilly