Thursday 29 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. 8676Sexual assault · Co. Clare · 7 Jun 2023

West Clare man pleads guilty to sexual assault of 13-year-old girl at Vandeleur Woods

A 22-year-old man from west Clare, then aged 19, pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to two counts of sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush, on 7 and 8 June 2023. He also pleaded guilty to using ICT to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child, and the DPP accepted the pleas on a full facts basis. The judge directed a victim impact statement from the complainant, now 15, and said sentencing should receive priority. The latest development is that the man was remanded on bail to Ennis Circuit Court on 31 July to fix a sentence date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted9 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a girl who was 13 at the time.
Where
The assaults took place at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush, County Clare.
When
The sexual assault charges relate to 7 and 8 June 2023.
Other details
  • The man was aged 19 at the time of the offences in June 2023.
  • The judge directed a victim impact statement from the complainant.
  • The judge said sentencing should receive priority because the complainant is now 15 and was 13 at the time of the offences.
Charges
  • He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended.
  • He pleaded guilty to using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child, contrary to Section 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
In court
  • The guilty pleas were entered at Ennis Circuit Court and were acceptable to the DPP on a full facts basis.
  • The man was remanded on bail to Ennis Circuit Court on 31 July to fix a sentence date.
Sentence
On conviction in the circuit court, the penalty is a prison term of up to five years.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a then 13-year-old girl. (clareecho.ie)
  • whereThe assaults took place at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe sexual assault charges relate to 7 and 8 June 2023. (clareecho.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended. (clareecho.ie)
  • chargeHe also pleaded guilty to using ICT to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child, contrary to Section 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe guilty pleas were acceptable to the DPP on a full facts basis. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe plea was entered at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
  • courtThe man was remanded on bail to Ennis Circuit Court on July 31 to fix a sentence date. (clareecho.ie)
  • sentenceOn conviction in the circuit court, persons face prison terms up to five years. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe judge directed a victim impact statement from the complainant. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe judge said sentencing should receive priority because the complainant is now 15 and was 13 at the time of the offences. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man was aged 19 at the time of the offences in June 2023. (clareecho.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Jul2026
    Convictedclareecho.ie, first report
    22 year old west Clare man pleads guilty to sexual assault of 13 year old girl at Vandeleur Woods on two dates in June 2023 - Clare Echo

    Guilty pleas entered at Ennis Circuit Court to two counts of sexual assault and one ICT sexual exploitation charge; the sentence date is to be fixed on 31 July.

    convicted, 22, malevictim, 13, female