Wednesday 28 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. 6744Sexual assault and rape · Co. Dublin

Woman goes on trial accused of sexually abusing younger cousin

A 20-year-old Dublin woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of sexually abusing her younger first cousin, a girl aged 10 to 11, at various addresses in Dublin between July 2017 and July 2019, when the accused was aged between 12 and 14. She has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape. Her trial opened in the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury, and on 31 March 2025 prosecutor Anne Rowland SC gave the opening address and the complainant's February 2023 garda interview was played to the jury. The trial is ongoing, and no verdict or sentence has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court31 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The accused is a 20-year-old Dublin woman who cannot be named for legal reasons.
  • The complainant is a girl, the accused's younger first cousin, who was aged between 10 and 11 at the time of the alleged offending.
  • The accused was aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the alleged offending.
  • The accused allegedly watched pornography on her tablet before asking her younger cousin to carry out sexual acts.
  • The complainant believed she was aged nine or 10 at the time of the first incident.
Where
The alleged offences occurred at various addresses in Dublin.
When
The alleged offending took place between July 2017 and July 2019 and started before the accused turned 12.
Other details
The complainant alleges the accused slapped her face on one occasion when she tried to stop, held her head down, and said she would not be her friend if she did not carry out the acts.
Charges
  • The accused pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape.
  • No charges were brought for allegations before the accused turned 12 because she had not reached the age of criminal responsibility.
In court
  • The trial is being heard before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
  • The prosecution, led by Anne Rowland SC, gave its opening address to the jury on Monday 31 March 2025.
Investigation
The complainant's specialist garda interview from February 2023 was played to the jury.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused is a 20-year-old Dublin woman who cannot be named for legal reasons (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe complainant was aged between 10 and 11 at the time of the alleged offending (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused was aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the alleged offending (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe alleged abuse started before the accused turned 12 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused allegedly watched pornography on her tablet before asking her younger cousin to carry out sexual acts (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn one occasion the accused slapped the complainant's face when she tried to stop (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe complainant believed she was aged nine or 10 at the time of the first incident (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused would hold the complainant's head down and told her she would not be her friend anymore if she did not carry out the acts (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged offences occurred at various addresses in Dublin between July 2017 and July 2019 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeNo charges were brought for allegations before the accused turned 12 as she had not reached the age of criminal responsibility (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is being heard before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman goes on trial accused of sexually abusing younger cousin during sleepovers

    Opening of the trial with the prosecution's opening address by Anne Rowland SC; the complainant's specialist garda interview from February 2023 was played to the jury.

    victim, 10-11, femaleaccused, 20, female