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. 5548Harassment and unlawful access to information system · Co. Dublin

UCD lecturer remanded on bail in Dublin harassment and hacking case

Stephen Davis, a 53-year-old British national and UCD assistant professor and archaeology lecturer, is accused of using malicious software to access student personal data and harassing about 50 students at the university in Dublin 4, with the case involving more than 100 complainants overall. The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau began its investigation in late 2023 after a complaint from the institution, carried out searches in 2024, and arrested Davis at his home in Bray, Co Wicklow, on 20 March 2026. He faces 148 charges including harassment and unlawful access to an information system, and the DPP directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court. At a 30 October 2026 appearance at Dublin District Court, Judge Karen Dowling marked the case peremptory against the State and Davis was remanded on continuing bail without having entered a plea.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged20 Mar
    2 reports
  4. In court1 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí are investigating allegations that a UCD assistant professor and archaeology lecturer used malicious software to gain unauthorised access to student personal data and harassed about 50 students, with the case involving more than 100 complainants overall.
Where
The offences allegedly took place at the UCD campus in Belfield, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, a university office, and the suspect's home in Bray, Co Wicklow.
When
The offences allegedly took place on various dates in 2023.
Cause
The investigation began after a complaint and information from the institution in late 2023.
Investigation
  • The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau carried out several searches in 2024 at the institution and a private home, and arrested and detained the man in May 2025 after analysing seized devices.
  • Davis was arrested at his home at 7.21am on Friday 20 March 2026.
Charges
The DPP directed that Davis be charged with 148 offences: 51 charges of harassment under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 96 charges of unlawfully accessing an information system, and one charge of unlawfully using software to access an information system under the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017.
In court
  • Davis appeared at Dublin District Court on 20 March 2026 before Judge Gerard Jones, the DPP directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, and the matter was adjourned to 24 July 2026.
  • On 30 October 2026 Davis appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge Karen Dowling, who marked the case peremptory against the State requiring the book of evidence to be ready in two weeks; Davis has not yet entered a plea and was remanded on continuing bail.
Other details
  • Bail conditions include surrendering his passport, signing on two days a week at his local garda station, remaining away from the library in Bray, and cashless bail set at €100.
  • The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau says it continues to engage with identified victims and the institution.
40 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are investigating allegations related to the alleged use of malicious software at a third-level institution. (gript.ie)
  • whatThe investigation concerns an employee at a third-level institution who allegedly used malware to gain unauthorised access to student personal data. (gript.ie)
  • whatHe is a UCD assistant professor and archaeology lecturer (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is 53 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is a British national (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe allegedly harassed about 50 students (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe case involves more than 100 victims in total (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDavis allegedly harassed about 50 students, but the case involves more than 100 complainants overall (thejournal.ie)
  • whereHis home address is in Bray, Co Wicklow (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at the UCD campus, Belfield, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, a university office, and his home address (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe man was arrested on the morning of 20 March 2026 and was to appear before Dublin District Court that day. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on various dates in 2023 (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe investigation began after a complaint and information from the institution in late 2023. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí carried out several searches in 2024 at the institution and at a private home of the suspected offender. (gript.ie)
  • investigationAfter analysing seized devices, gardaí arrested and detained a man in his 50s in May 2025. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was conducted by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau into the use of malicious software and began in 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHe was arrested at his home at 7.21am on Friday (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe prosecution follows a GNCCB probe that began in 2023 into the use of malicious software (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationDavis was interviewed last year and the investigation went back three years (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the suspect be charged with multiple offences connected with the investigation. (gript.ie)
  • chargeHe faces 148 charges in total (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faces 51 charges of harassment under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faces 96 charges of unlawfully accessing an information system (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faces one charge of unlawfully using software to access an information system (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe charges include breaches of sections 2 and 8(1) of the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDavis faces 148 charges in total, including harassment and breaches of sections 2 and 8(1) of the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017 (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeDavis faces 51 harassment charges under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and 96 charges of unlawfully accessing an information system (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe final charge relates to unlawfully using software to access an information system (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge Gerard Jones (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP directed that he face trial on indictment in the Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to 24 July 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDavis appeared at Dublin District Court on Friday 30 October 2026 (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDavis has not yet entered a plea (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Karen Dowling marked the case peremptory against the State, requiring the book of evidence to be ready in two weeks (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDavis was remanded on continuing bail (thejournal.ie)
  • courtBail conditions include surrendering his passport, signing on two days a week at his local garda station, and remaining away from the library in Bray (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau says it continues to engage with identified victims and the institution. (gript.ie)
  • otherBail conditions include signing on two days a week at his local garda station and staying away from the library in Bray (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCashless bail was set at €100 (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Oct2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, its first report
    Evidence deadline in case of UCD lecturer facing 148 charges of hacking students' data and harassment

    Details the 30 October 2026 court appearance: 148 charges broken down (51 harassment, 96 unlawful access, 1 unlawful use of software), over 100 complainants, DPP directed trial on indictment in Circuit Court, Judge Dowling marked case peremptory giving two weeks for book of evidence, Davis remanded on continuing bail with conditions including passport surrender and staying away from Bray library.

    suspect, Stephen Davis, 53, male, British, named, non-irishStephen Davis
  2. 20 Mar2026
    Chargedirishtimes.com, its first report
    UCD archaeology lecturer charged with hacking students’ personal data and harassment

    First court appearance; 148 charges laid; DPP directed trial on indictment in Circuit Court; adjourned to 24 July 2026; bail conditions imposed.

    accused, Stephen Davis, 53, male, British, named, non-irishStephen Davis
  3. 20 Mar2026
    Chargedgript.ie, first report
    Man charged over UCD "malicious software" - Gript

    First report of the charge against the man. The headline names UCD, but the article body refers only to a third-level educational institution and does not name it.

    accused, 50s, male