A 78-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offences spanning five years, following court proceedings linked to a grandfather sexual assault case in Ireland. The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared before Wicklow Circuit Court, where he admitted to 14 counts of sexual assault involving his granddaughter between January 2019 and September 2024.
The court heard that the defendant is also charged with 53 alleged offences against the same victim.

Timeline of offending and Garda evidence

Detective Garda Stephanie Hallahan provided evidence outlining when the abuse began. According to her testimony, the offending started when the victim was 11, initially involving touching over clothing. By the time the victim reached her teenage years, the abuse had escalated to contact underneath clothing.

The detective said gardaí became aware of the allegations in September 2024 after a dispute in the family home, which the defendant shared with his daughter and granddaughter. During this incident, concerns were raised after a mark was noticed on the victim’s neck. The victim subsequently made a comment suggesting that the defendant was “jealous” because he had not caused it. Following this exchange, the victim disclosed the abuse to her mother, who then reported the matter to Gardaí.

Victim’s account of ongoing abuse

In Garda interviews, the victim described repeated acts of molestation, stating they occurred four to five times each week. She said the defendant had penetrated her during incidents in which he also touched himself.
Detective Garda Hallahan told the court that the defendant left the family home after the allegations were uncovered and travelled to mainland Europe, where he owns a property. Upon returning and being questioned by Gardaí, he made full admissions. He claimed he had been “in a relationship to a certain extent” with his granddaughter, a statement included in evidence relating to the grandfather’s sexual assault case in Ireland.

Victim impact statement and family impact

A victim impact statement written by the girl’s mother was read in court by James Kelly, BL. She stated that the events had “shaken my sense of safety and trust in the world” and described the wider family as being left “in anguish”.

The offence occurred while the defendant was providing childcare for his daughter. Counsel for the defence, Colman FitzGerald SC, told the court that his client made an immediate admission of guilt and cooperated fully with Gardaí. The defendant travelled abroad after the incident, with his daughter purchasing his ticket. The court also heard that he was widowed in 1991.
A letter of apology written by the defendant was delivered to Gardaí, who were asked to bring it to his daughters.

Court response and next steps in sentencing

Mr FitzGerald said his client had been regarded as a dependable family member and now maintained contact only with his sister. Judge Patrick Quinn ordered that the man remain in custody until an early December date, when sentencing will be finalised.

The case continues to draw attention as another example of a grandfather’s sexual assault case in Ireland, with sentencing expected to address the seriousness of repeated offending over several years. Garda evidence and victim statements will form part of the final considerations. This matter remains before the court, and further updates will follow upon sentencing.