Ireland Crime

Named as

Victim

Offences

Rape, Assault, Coercive control, False imprisonment

Where

Co. Donegal

Reporting

10 reports, 28 Jul 2022 to 12 Dec 2025

Outlets

irishtimes.com, donegallive.ie, extra.ie, leitrimobserver.ie, thejournal.ie, rte.ie

Photographs

as published, with the outlet's credit

Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.

• Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal Rape · Co. Donegal

  Dean Ward, 38, formerly of Ballintlea, Hollyfort, Gorey, Co Wexford, was convicted in June 2022 of 12 offences including three counts of rape, four assaults and coercive control after he raped, assaulted and coercively controlled Sinéad O'Neill, a woman from Killybegs, Co Donegal, over a six-week relationship in 2019. Ward was arrested by armed gardaí at O'Neill's home on 17 July 2019 and sentenced to 17 years in prison at the Central Criminal Court in July 2022. His appeal against conviction was rejected by the Court of Appeal in December 2025. Ward maintains his innocence.

  Sentenced, 28 Jul 2022Victim · 10 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 12 Dec2025
   Sentencedirishtimes.com, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man sentenced to 17 years for rape, assault and coercive control has appeal rejected

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
2. 12 Dec2025
   Otherdonegallive.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man who beat, raped and coercively controlled Donegal woman has appeal rejected

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
3. 29 Jul2022
   Sentenceddonegallive.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Watch: Donegal woman speaks out after her rapist was jailed for 17 years

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
4. 29 Jul2022
   Sentencedextra.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man Gets 17 Years' Jail For Rape, Assault And Coercive Control Of Woman In Six-Week Relationship

   victim, Sineád O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sineád O'Neill♀IE
5. 28 Jul2022
   Sentencedirishtimes.com, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   ‘I felt helpless, but there is support’: Sinéad O’Neill speaks outside court after sentencing of Dean Ward

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
6. 28 Jul2022
   Sentencedleitrimobserver.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man jailed for rape, assault and coercive control of Donegal woman

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
7. 28 Jul2022
   Sentencedthejournal.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man given 17 years for rape, assault and coercive control of woman during six-week relationship

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
8. 28 Jul2022
   Sentenceddonegallive.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man jailed for rape, assault and coercive control of Donegal woman

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
9. 28 Jul2022
   Sentencedirishtimes.com, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

   Man sentenced to 17 years in prison for coercive control and rape

   victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE
10. 28 Jul2022
    Sentencedrte.ie, in Man's rape and coercive control appeal rejected in Donegal

    Man jailed for 17 years for rape, coercive control

    victim, Sinéad O'Neill, female, irish (judged from name)Sinéad O'Neill♀IE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.