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. 21683False allegation (Section 12, Criminal Law Act 1976) · Co. Waterford · 19 Feb 2023

Woman arrested over false allegation of sexual assault in Dungarvan

A woman was arrested in Dungarvan, County Waterford, on suspicion of making a false allegation that a group of foreign men attempted to sexually assault her on 19 February 2023. Gardaí could not find evidence to support the claim, and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested16 Mar
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman was arrested on suspicion of making a false allegation about a sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe allegation was that a group of migrants tried to sexually assault the woman on the street. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA resident in a nearby house allegedly intervened after hearing screams. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman first told a relative about the alleged attack before making a complaint to gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place in Dungarvan, County Waterford. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident occurred on Sunday, 19 February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí could not find evidence to back up the claim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe woman was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and subsequently released. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA file is being prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are not investigating any other similar alleged assaults in Dungarvan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe woman was arrested under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act 1976. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí noted a significant volume of misinformation and fake news circulating in relation to public safety. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Mar2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai arrest woman on suspicion of making false allegation about sexual assault

    First report of the arrest; Gardaí confirmed they are not investigating any other similar alleged assaults in Dungarvan and noted a significant volume of misinformation circulating online.

    suspect, femalesuspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)