Ireland Named in reporting
William Connolly
Born between February 1957 and January 1958, from the ages reported. 5 reports across 2 cases, 2 Mar 2022 to 13 Feb 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, victim
- Born
- Between February 1957 and January 1958, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Rape, Sexual assault, Exploitation of a child for the purpose of sexual activity, Extortion
- Where
- Co. Cork, Co. Kilkenny
- Reporting
- 5 reports, 2 Mar 2022 to 13 Feb 2026
- Outlets
- irishtimes.com, rte.ie, thejournal.ie, kilkennypeople.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.
Cases
latest first- Equestrian coach William Connolly jailed for nine years for raping and sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl in Midleton, Co Cork Rape · Co. Cork
William Connolly, a 68-year-old equestrian coach from Midleton, Co Cork, was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a girl who was 14 at the time, in offences between August and December 2019 at various locations in Co Cork. The abuse began at an equestrian centre, and the girl was given alcohol and riding clothing. The offences came to light when the girl's mother found texts from Connolly on her daughter's phone, and the case was heard at the Central Criminal Court in Cork after a wait of almost six years. A jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on 26 January 2026, and on 13 February 2026 Connolly was sentenced to nine years in prison, with no part suspended, backdated to 19 December 2025 (one report gives 17 December 2025).
Sentenced, 1 Feb 2026Convicted · 4 reports - Kilkenny man convicted of extortion at local business Extortion · Co. Kilkenny
Timmy O'Reilly was convicted at Kilkenny District Court of extorting store manager William Connolly at Connolly's Redmills on the Old Dublin Road, Kilkenny, on 30 January 2020. O'Reilly pointed out a blind spot in the CCTV cameras and asked for free bags of feed, then followed Connolly to the back of the warehouse. On 1 February 2020 he returned in his van with two young children to press the issue. Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted him under section 17 of the Public Order Act in March 2022, with sentencing adjourned to 25 April 2022.
Convicted, 2 Mar 2022Victim · 1 report
Timeline
every report naming William Connolly, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 13 Feb2026Equestrian coach jailed for nine years for grooming and raping girl (14)convicted, William Connolly, 68, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Connolly
- 13 Feb2026Coach jailed for nine years for rape of 14-year-old girlconvicted, William Connolly, 60s, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Connolly
- 1 Feb2026Horse riding coach in his 60s jailed for nine years for rape of 14-year-old girlconvicted, William Connolly, sixties, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Connolly
- 26 Jan2026Teenage rape victim lay awake wondering if anyone would believe allegations against coachconvicted, William Connolly, 68, male, named, irish (judged from name)William Connolly
- 2 Mar2022Kilkenny man convicted of extortion on local businessvictim, William Connolly, male, irish (judged from name)William Connolly
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.