sexual abuse

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Mother and daughter sitting back to back
Family waited nearly a year for support after girl sexually assaulted by peers
A mother describes an 11-month wait for counselling after her teenage daughter was sexually assaulted, highlighting gaps in State support services

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Matternity hospital rents hotel beds for pregnant women
Ireland's busiest sexual assault treatment unit records 12% rise in cases
Sexual assault treatment units provide 24/7 specialist care to people who have experienced sexual violence, including medical care, forensic examination, evidence storage, and access to psychological support

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

AI prompt chat bot. Search website to generate data, text or image. Man using computer with artificial intelligence app. Virtual
Sexual abuse support service for children raises 'concern' about impact of AI 
Rise driven by exposure to online pornography with fears over impact of AI tools

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Former Cork scout leader jailed for indecent assault of boys argues he should have had two separate trials
Former Cork scout leader jailed for indecent assault of boys argues he should have had two separate trials
The argument is that due to the 'circumstances of cruelty' involved in an attack he committed on one boy in a wooded area, the offences against this victim should have been the subject of a separate trial to that concerning four other complainants

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Sad woman
Sharp rise in sexually harmful behaviour among children linked to online exposure
Children at Risk Ireland warns online pornography, grooming and AI imagery are driving a significant rise in harmful sexual behaviour

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Paschal Donohoe resignation
TD tells AI minister X has 'lied' to her about disabling Grok's nudification function
TD Paul Murphy told Niamh Smyth today: 'I just got someone in my office, with my consent, to undress me (using Grok).'

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Woman felt sorry for Cork equestrian coach, aged 62, who raped her, aged 14, until he denied it in court
Woman felt sorry for Cork equestrian coach, aged 62, who raped her, aged 14, until he denied it in court
During his evidence the  sports coach described the young woman’s evidence as ‘fantasies’ and ‘insane’

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Prisoner XL
Woman who sexually assaulted her own daughter and let brother rape child gets 15 years
The woman’s brother, the child’s uncle, was also jailed for 15 years for raping the child when she was six years old

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Five juveniles questioned over alleged sexual assault of schoolgirl in Dublin
Five juveniles questioned over alleged sexual assault of schoolgirl in Dublin
It is understood an alleged attacker sent the young girl a video of the assault

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Gardaí investigate sexual assault allegations at Mid-West primary school
Gardaí investigate sexual assault allegations at Mid-West primary school
It is believed the incidents occurred over the duration of several months on school grounds

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Gardaí deport 25 convicted sex offenders in new operation
Gardaí deport 25 convicted sex offenders in new operation
Operation Moonridge targets 'highly dangerous' non-Irish nationals living in the state. 

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

'It should be illegal,' says survivor of child sexual abuse about AI 'nudification' technology
'It should be illegal,' says survivor of child sexual abuse about AI 'nudification' technology
Child protection experts warn AI-generated sexual imagery causes lasting trauma and are urging urgent bans and EU-wide regulation

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

X's AI chatbot Grok
Nudification apps have no legitimate reason to exist, says online reporting platform
Mick Moran, chief executive of Hotline.ie, has also called again for it to be illegal for any AI app to produce child sexual abuse material

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Shein stock market float
Shein's childlike sex dolls: French bid to ban illicit trade rejected by court
French consumer regulator found five other platforms — AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Joom, and Temu — were also selling illicit goods

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Eamonn Harrison court case
'She told me she was 18, I just kissed her': Extra charge for man accused of sex attack on girl, 10
The man was further charged today with a second count of sexual assault of the same complainant at another location close to Garter Lane

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Young boy seen nasty internet content
Judge voices concerns about children’s unsupervised internet access in child sex abuse case
The boy, who was 13 years old when he sexually abused his six-year-old sister, told gardaí that he first viewed pornography when he was six

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Peter Kelly JAILED CCJ 2
Ex-teacher gets 10 years for indecent assault of eight boys at school run by Spiritan priests
The offences happened over 30 years ago at a private Dublin school

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Undercover police sting in the UK nets Irish engineer with thousands of child sex abuse images
Undercover police sting in the UK nets Irish engineer with thousands of child sex abuse images
Sentencing was adjourned until a date in December

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Charity warns Christmas the 'most dangerous' time for children at risk of sexual abuse
Charity warns Christmas the 'most dangerous' time for children at risk of sexual abuse
The ISPCC says 300 children a year make contact about sexual abuse, involving rape, incest and being forced to watch or perform sexual acts, as it launches its Christmas appeal

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Criminal Courts of Justice
Cork man appeals conviction for sexually abusing teenage sister-in-law over prejudice about temper
Barry McDonagh, of Avoncore Bungalows in Midleton was found guilty of 17 counts of rape and one count of sexual assault

Sat, 01 Nov, 2025

Government awareness campaign a waste of resources, says abuse survivor
Government awareness campaign a waste of resources, says abuse survivor
Paula Kavanagh said: 'How much money is being spent on these awareness campaigns when that funding could be used by the very organisations they’re urging victims to call?'

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025

Psychologists raise alarm over use of victims’ counselling notes in sexual assault trials
Psychologists raise alarm over use of victims’ counselling notes in sexual assault trials
Psychologists and Cork campaigner Mary Crilly warn that disclosing counselling notes in sex offence trials breaches survivor trust and safety

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

'I am living in fear all the time,' says Cork girl ahead of her uncle's sentencing for sexual abuse
'I am living in fear all the time,' says Cork girl ahead of her uncle's sentencing for sexual abuse
The man, now 34, admitted sexually abusing one niece when she was aged eight to 11 or 12, and another when she was aged four

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Sad boy
Record numbers seek help for historical child sex abuse — most of them men
One in Four saw demand for its services increase by 17% last year, with the percentage of male survivors coming forward rising to 62% 

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

'Talk to your children': Gardaí warn that kids can easily be snared by online abusers
'Talk to your children': Gardaí warn that kids can easily be snared by online abusers
Gardaí plead with parents to set sensible ground rules as they detail their work tracking down social media sexual abusers and blackmailers

Sat, 18 Oct, 2025

Mommy's Comfort (series)
Gardaí warn that children as young as five are being targeted online for sexual exploitation
Gardaí have identified over 100 Irish child victims of online sexual abuse this year as AI fuels new forms of exploitation

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025

Cork man charged with raping girl and making child sex abuse images
Cork man charged with raping girl and making child sex abuse images
Cork District Court also heard the accused led the girl 'to believe she was responsible for a €12,000 drug debt'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Majority of AI firms working on unhelpful 'generic' tools
Boys using 'AI girlfriends' to design a personal porn partner, conference hears
Researchers warn that teenage boys are creating pornographic 'AI girlfriends' using real girls’ photos, normalising violence and deepfake abuse

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Artificial Intelligence futuristic light sign 3D rendering illustration. Concept of AI, cyber technology, machine learning and c
Reports of child sexual abuse material surge to almost 28,000, new data reveals
Almost 28,000 reports of child sexual abuse material linked to Ireland last year as experts warn of AI-driven exploitation

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Upset girl on her smartphone in the dark.
'Trafficking victims in Cork don't come forward for fear of court or deportation'
'All we need is your age and first name': Sexual assault treatment unit specialist encourages trafficking victims who may have been sexually assaulted to come forward

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Garda Commissioner warns children being lured into crime through social media and online gaming
Garda Commissioner warns children being lured into crime through social media and online gaming
More than 400 police chiefs warn organised crime is recruiting children online, urging urgent international cooperation and stronger protective measures

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

FILE PHOTO Pictured is Mick Finnegan, one of the abuse survivors who engaged with Dr Geoffrey Shannon in the creation of the rep
Labour leader calls for public inquiry into sex abuse allegations at St John’s Ambulance
It follows the publication in 2023 of a report by Dr Geoffrey Shannon which found systemic failures in the charity

Sun, 03 Aug, 2025

'You will be heard,' says Cork woman as her brother is jailed for raping her as a child
'You will be heard,' says Cork woman as her brother is jailed for raping her as a child
After sentencing, Niamh Herbert said: 'To anyone who has been harmed by another person let me tell you that you are strong, – speak your truth, people will listen, people will support you and you will be believed.'

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

Criminal Courts of Justice
Judge orders trial for former sports figure in his 70s on 79 historic sexual abuse charges
The man, who cannot be named due to the nature of the charges, faces 79 allegations relating to the sexual abuse of four girls aged between eight and 15 in Ireland during the 1970s and 1980s

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Man in prison hands of behind hold Steel cage jail bars. offender criminal locked in jail.
'I got the justice I deserve,' says Waterford woman as her father is jailed for sexually abusing her
Imposing sentence, the judge noted there had been no acknowledgement by James O'Reilly of the verdicts, and no expressions of remorse or empathy

Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

Little boy or child sitting alone on floor in front of the school after suffering an act of bullying
Investigation of historic child sexual abuse will now include all schools
Helen McEntee told the Dáil the commission of investigation will have the power to compel witnesses and documents

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Number of sex offenders in Irish jails up 16% amid ‘epidemic of violence against women’
Number of sex offenders in Irish jails up 16% amid ‘epidemic of violence against women’
MEP calls for suite of reforms including a review of sentencing for such crimes, and advanced training for circuit and district court judges

Mon, 14 Jul, 2025

British Irish Council summit
Tánaiste: Religious orders cannot 'plead the poor mouth' and must contribute to school abuse redress 
The potential size of any redress scheme has caused some unease in Government

Mon, 14 Jul, 2025

silhouette of depress woman standing in the dark with light shine behind
New Cork/Kerry centre 'has met dozens of migrants trafficked for sexual exploitation' 
As it formally launches its Cork and Kerry service, Ruhama says it has already dealt with 80 alleged victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in the region

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Cahirmee horse fair
Investigation into sexual abuse in schools should include probe into State's responsibility, survivor says
Louise O’Keeffe said it was essential that files within the Department of Education be released as many of the older schools would have closed and the abusers would have died

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Life Sentences Bill 2024
Commission of inquiry to be established into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools
A scoping inquiry published last year found that there were 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse against 884 teachers, priests and others in respect of 308 schools recorded by the religious orders which ran the schools

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Justice may finally catch up to George Gibney, the man Irish swimming tried to forget
Justice may finally catch up to George Gibney, the man Irish swimming tried to forget
Former Irish Olympic coach George Gibney has been arrested in Florida and faces extradition to Ireland over historic child sexual abuse charges

Wed, 02 Jul, 2025

'I don’t forgive you but I don’t judge you': Ex-school principal jailed for indecently assaulting six boys
'I don’t forgive you but I don’t judge you': Ex-school principal jailed for indecently assaulting six boys
The injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when Aidan Clohessy's offending took place at St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co Dublin

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

Never leave your drink alone
10% of those attending sexual assault treatment units reported multiple assailants
One in ten people attending Ireland's six SATUs last year said they had been assaulted by two or more individuals

Sun, 22 Jun, 2025

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