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 sexual assault allegation in Dungarvan

On 19 February 2023, a woman alleged that a group of male foreign nationals attempted to sexually assault her in a laneway in Dungarvan, County Waterford. The claim spread widely on social media, linking the incident to a number of male foreign nationals and prompting reports of a similar subsequent incident in the same area. Gardaí investigated and could not find evidence to support the claim. On 15 March 2023, the woman was arrested under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act 1976 for making a false report of a crime, was detained under Section 4, questioned, and released. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and she has not been charged.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested15 Mar
    4 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A woman alleged that a group of male foreign nationals attempted to sexually assault her in a laneway in Dungarvan.
  • Widely shared social media posts linked the rumoured assault to a number of male foreign nationals and reported a subsequent similar incident in the same area.
Where
The alleged incident took place in a laneway in Dungarvan, County Waterford.
When
The alleged incident was reported to have occurred in the early hours of Sunday 19 February 2023.
Investigation
  • Gardaí investigated the allegation and could not find evidence to support the claim.
  • The woman was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, questioned, and released.
Charges
The woman was arrested under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act 1976 for making a false report of a crime.
In court
A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Other details
  • The woman has not been charged.
  • Gardaí are not investigating any other similar alleged assaults in Dungarvan and are not aware of any spate of attacks by foreign nationals in the area.
  • Gardaí noted a significant volume of misinformation, disinformation and fake news circulating in relation to public safety.
Sentence
The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSocial media alleged there was an attempted assault on the street and a resident in a nearby house intervened after hearing screams. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatWidely shared social media posts linked the rumoured assault to a number of male foreign nationals. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThere were further reports of a subsequent incident of a similar nature in the same area. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatA woman was arrested in relation to an alleged attempted sexual assault in Dungarvan last month (gript.ie)
  • 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)
  • whatA woman was questioned in relation to an alleged false claim following sexual assault allegations in Dungarvan (rte.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place in Dungarvan, County Waterford. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place in a laneway in Dungarvan (rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident was reported to have happened in the early hours of Sunday 19 February 2023 in Dungarvan. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident occurred on Sunday, 19 February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident occurred on 19 February 2023 (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe woman was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and subsequently released. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA file is being prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are not investigating any other similar alleged assaults at this time. (corkbeo.ie, rte.ie)
  • investigationA female was detained as part of the investigation and subsequently released (gript.ie)
  • investigationA file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (gript.ie, rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí could not find evidence to back up the claim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are not investigating any other similar alleged assaults in Dungarvan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí arrested a woman under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act 1976. (corkbeo.ie)
  • chargeThe woman was arrested under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act, 1976 (gript.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe woman was arrested for making a false report of a crime (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison upon conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí are not aware of any alleged spate of attacks by foreign nationals as suggested on social media. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe woman has not been charged (gript.ie)
  • otherGardaí noted a significant volume of misinformation and fake news circulating in relation to public safety. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe woman was released following questioning (rte.ie)
  • otherGardaí are not aware of any alleged spate of attacks by foreign nationals in the area (rte.ie)
  • otherGardaí are acutely aware of significant volume of misinformation, disinformation and fake news in circulation in relation to public safety (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Mar2023
    Arrestedrte.ie, its first report
    Woman questioned in relation to alleged assault claim

    Confirms the woman was released after questioning and a file is being prepared for the DPP. Gardaí stated they are not aware of any 'spate' of attacks by foreign nationals in the area and are not investigating any other similar alleged assaults.

    suspect, female
  2. 16 Mar2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, its 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)
  3. 15 Mar2023
    Arrestedgript.ie, its first report
    Dungarvan Gardai say woman arrested in alleged attack case - Gript

    Confirms the arrest was made under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act, 1976, that the woman was subsequently released, and that a file is being prepared for the DPP. She has not been charged.

    suspect, female
  4. 15 Mar2023
    Arrestedcorkbeo.ie, first report
    Arrest in Dungarvan as Gardai clarify 'fake news' of attacks by 'foreigners'

    Adds the social media context about 'fake news' and 'disinformation', the Garda statement clarifying no other similar assaults are being investigated and no spate of attacks by foreign nationals is known, and confirms the woman was detained under Section 4 and released with a file being prepared for the DPP.

    suspect, female