Sunday 1 November 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. 21800Rape; sexual assault · Co. Kerry · 26 Jul 2020

Two teenagers sentenced over rape and sexual assault in Kerry

A 16-year-old girl was raped and sexually assaulted by two teenagers in a dark country lane in an isolated area of Co Kerry in the early hours of 26 July 2020. The two defendants, aged 17 and 15 at the time and unnamed to protect the victim's anonymity, were convicted in January 2023 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Tralee on six of eight charges, with the jury failing to reach a verdict on two counts. On 23 March 2023, the older offender, now 19, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison with the final year suspended, and the younger offender, now 17, was sentenced to three years detention backdated to 31 July 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 16-year-old girl was raped and sexually assaulted by two teenagers over a period of two-and-a-half hours.
Where
The attack took place in a dark country lane in an isolated area near a Co Kerry town.
When
The offending occurred in the early hours of the night of 26 July 2020, after the girl sneaked out of her home at 1.30am.
Charges
The older defendant was convicted of one count of rape, one of oral rape and two of sexual assault, while the younger offender was found guilty of one count of oral rape and one of sexual assault.
In court
The convictions followed a jury trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Tralee in January 2023, with the jury failing to reach a verdict on two counts.
Sentence
The older offender, now aged 19, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison with the final year suspended, and the younger offender, now aged 17, was sentenced to three years detention backdated to 31 July 2022.
Other details
  • The victim had consumed around five cans of cider and three-quarters of a bottle of wine before the attack.
  • The victim was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, dropped out of school, and was hospitalised for 112 days, including a psychiatric admission after her organs began to fail due to a severe eating disorder.
  • Neither defendant had any previous offending, and the case was delayed coming to trial because of the pandemic and lockdown.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe attack occurred in an isolated area near a Co Kerry town, in a dark country lane. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offending took place in the early hours of the night of 26 July 2020. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe girl sneaked out of her home at 1.30am on the night of the offending. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe older defendant was convicted on one count of rape, one of oral rape and two of sexually assaulting the girl. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe younger offender was found guilty of one count of oral rape and one of sexual assault. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe conviction followed a jury trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Tralee. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe jury failed to reach a verdict on two counts. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge said if the offenders had been adults, the headline sentence would have been ten years for the older and eight years for the younger. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe older offender, now aged 19, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe final year of the older offender's sentence was suspended on condition he keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe younger offender, now aged 17, was sentenced to three years detention backdated to 31 July 2022. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim had consumed around five cans of cider and three-quarters of a bottle of wine. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe offences occurred over two-and-a-half hours. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim fell into a ditch at one point and was pulled up, but the boys continued to sexually assault her. (rte.ie)
  • otherNeither defendant has any previous offending. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and continues to suffer panic attacks. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim dropped out of school and did not complete her Leaving Cert. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim took 1,000 tablets, had 156 hours of counselling and was hospitalised for 112 days since the assault. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe victim's eating disorder became so severe she was hospitalised in a psychiatric unit after her organs began to fail. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe case was delayed coming to trial because of the pandemic and lockdown. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Mar2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Two sentenced over sex attack on teenage girl in Kerry

    Sentencing hearing with victim impact statement; older offender given 5 years 5 months (final year suspended), younger offender given 3 years detention backdated to 31 July 2022.

    victim, 16, femaleconvicted, 17, maleconvicted, 15, male