Latest news with #ProbationServices
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Man who raped drunk teenage girl (17) in Drogheda jailed
BREAKING | Jibola Moses Akanni (27) has 28 previous convictions from both Ireland and the UK relating to road traffic matters, as well as convictions for theft, public order, and handling stolen property. The Central Criminal Court (stock photo) The Central Criminal Court heard that that Jibola Moses Akanni (27) of St Laurence Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault at an apartment on Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1, on February 15, 2018. He has 28 previous convictions from both Ireland and the UK relating to road traffic matters, as well as convictions for theft, public order, and handling stolen property. Passing sentence today, Mr Justice David Keane commended the injured party in this case in the manner in which she conducted herself through the trial and wished her well for the future. Judge Keane said the aggravating factors in this case were the extended nature of the ordeal while the injured party was barely conscious, the disparity in the age of both parties and that she was an intoxicated and vulnerable person at the time. The judge set a headline sentence of nine years for each of the rape charges and four years for the sexual assault charge. The judge said that a limited amount of mitigation can be granted for Akanni's cooperation with the gardaí, and with regard to his previous conviction, 'the best that can be said is that they are not for this type of offending.' The Central Criminal Court (stock photo) News in 90 Seconds - June 26th He stated that 'no credit can be given for a guilty plea, as none was forthcoming, and he does not accept the jury's verdict, nor has remorse been shown.' Judge Keane noted that the probation report placed Akanni at high risk of sexual or violent reoffending. He accepted letters handed to the court by Akanni's parents, who spoke of his good and finer qualities. Judge Keane sentenced Akanni to eight and a half years on each of the two rape counts and three and a half years for the charge of sexual assault all of which are to run concurrently and backdated to November when he went into custody. With regards to rehabilitation, the judge said, 'There is no prospect of his engagement in sexual offending courses and there is no realistic hope of promoting rehabilitation, so I will not suspend any part of the sentence.' The judge said, 'In order to protect the public from the risk of him sexually reoffending, I will place him under the supervision of the Probation Services for two years post-release.' He instructed that Akanni carry out all directions that the Probation Services deemed necessary. Read more At a previous hearing, Garda Orla Cashel told Rebecca Smith, BL, prosecuting, that the injured party travelled to Dublin to attend a concert. When she arrived at the venue with her friends, she was refused entry as she was underage. While she was waiting outside the venue, she met a male whom she had met before. He invited her and her two friends to an apartment where he was staying, which was next door to the venue. Here she met Akanni. The group listened to music and drank. The court heard that the injured party attempted one more time to enter the venue but was again refused. She did not want to ruin the night for her friends and told them to go to the concert and that she would wait in the apartment. The injured party was upset that she could not get into the venue, and Akanni held a bottle of alcohol to her lips and told her to drink. The injured party said she was tired and was going to go to sleep. She complained that she was lightheaded, and again Akanni held the bottle to her lips, and he then turned off the lights in the bedroom where she was. Gda Cashel said that Akanni then asked her what she had done sexually and if she had had sex with her boyfriend, to which she said 'no' and stated that she was 'only 17'. At this time, she was fully dressed and unable to keep her eyes open and was not able to speak. Akanni then put his penis in her mouth. He then removed her trousers and underwear and put his mouth on her genital area. A short time later she felt pressure and pain in her vagina. The court heard that the woman's next memory was of being taken to the Emergency Room in an ambulance by her friends. They had returned to the apartment and noticed that her trousers were on inside out. The girl also began to vomit and was unable to stand up. Her friends brought her to the bathroom and then noticed that her underwear was also on incorrectly and stained. She was examined in a sexual assault treatment unit. Akanni was identified using CCTV and documents relating to the rented accommodation where he had stayed. He was arrested and interviewed four times, but nothing of value was obtained. Gda Cashel agreed with Ciaran O'Loughlin, SC, defending, that his client has no previous convictions for this type of offending. Mr O'Loughlin said Akanni came to Ireland when he was two years old and is now 27 years of age. Counsel said there was no violence or threats made; only the act itself.
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Monster who raped victim while her son was in other room due back on Irish streets as 14 sex offenders released
A MONSTER who raped his victim while her son was in another room will be freed from prison this weekend. The Irish Sun can reveal Connors is being freed after completing a 10-month sentence he received for failing to notify Gardai of his address when he left Under the terms of his release, he has to notify Gardai of his whereabouts. But as he prepares for his release this weekend we can also reveal that he's still classified as having 'no fixed abode'. It's understood the Probation Services are working to find him a suitable place to live. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS As part of his release conditions, he will also be placed on the He's also banned from trying to contact his innocent victim or any of her relatives. Although he received a 14-year sentence in 2009 for a brutal rape, he's also classified by Gardai as a 'serial thief'. He was released from prison in 2024 after serving a sentence for a series of thefts he committed in 2022. MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN A senior prison source said: 'Connors is a serial offender and was behind a lot of thefts when he was released from his rape conviction. 'He's due out in a matter of days but still hasn't provided Gardai with any address. Moment evil soldier who raped woman in town centre is caught cowering in toilet 'He always returns to Wexford each time he's released from prison but it's possible he could go somewhere else. 'Connors is a very difficult prisoner and he will probably end up in prison again because he just can't help himself.' Connors raped his victim in 2006 along with another man before he was caged in 2009. They targeted the woman after calling to her BRUTAL ATTACK At their trial in December 2008, their victim recounted how the two men forced their way into her home. Her young She was pushed onto the bed and a piece of rope that was on the floor was wrapped around her neck. The two men denied the rapes in court but were both unanimously convicted by a jury in the Central Criminal Connors was released in 2019 with residents objecting to his return to Enniscorthy in a series of protests. 1 Monster John Connors is set to be released from prison in just days
Irish Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man who sexually assaulted five women at Irish pilgrimage site jailed
A worker at the Lough Derg pilgrimage site who duped unsuspecting women into helping him at the retreat so he could sexually assault them has been jailed for a total of four years. Cunning Tomas Gallagher preyed on five female victims by asking them to help him repair washing machines and tumble dryers during a series of terrifying incidents at the renowned religious setting. But instead of helping the workman, the innocent women found themselves being sexually assaulted after the 42-year-old preyed on the unsuspecting women. Details of the plans hatched by Gallagher were outlined before Letterkenny Circuit Court last week. Gallagher had pleaded guilty to seven charges in all, four for sexual assaults of adults, two for sexual assault on children and one charge of invitation to a child to sexually touch. And today, having considered reports on Gallagher as well as the statements from his victims, Judge John Aylmer jailed the father-of-one for five years with the last 12 months suspended. He said the crimes, as outlined in the case, were "egregious acts of violence in a sacred place of pilgrimage." He told Gallagher that his crimes were 'deceitful' and 'premeditated' and that he placed them in the mid-range for such offences and which merited a sentence of seven years before mitigation. In mitigation he noted an early plea, the fact that the accused had no previous convictions, that he appeared to be remorseful and ashamed of his actions. Judge Aylmer also noted that Gallagher had undertaken 24 counselling sessions, that he was fully cooperative and that he had been ostracised in the local community. Taking the totality factor into account and that all sentences will run concurrently, Judge Aylmer said he was reducing the overall sentence to one of five years. He then added that with regard to all efforts to encourage rehabilitation and the fact that it needs to be encouraged, he suspended the final 12 months of that sentence meaning Gallagher will serve four years in prison. He is also to go under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months. Gallagher, from Rathanlacky, Dunkineely pleaded to a total of seven charges against five different women at the holy island on the shores of Lough Derg. He pleaded to six charges of sexual assault at St Patrick's Purgatory. These offences are contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. He also pleaded that in the same period and location, he did attempt, by inviting, inducing, counselling or inciting a child to sexual touching. This offence is contrary to Section 4 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017. The victims, who cannot be named to protect their identity, ranged in age from their early teens to more mature women in their later years. All of the offences took place in 2022, when Gallagher worked both as a maintenance man at the retreat, as well as driving a boat taking pilgrims to and from the island. Barrister for the state, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL and investigating Garda Joanna Doherty outlined the details of the incidents. Statements given to Gardai by the victims told how Gallagher had approached them, asking them to come into a laundry room as he needed help fixing various machines. The statements outlined how the unsuspecting women were asked to reach behind them into the machines while Gallagher fixed a "pipe." The women thought they were holding a pipe but instead they were gripping the accused man's penis. On one occasion, Gallagher told one of his victims to twist the pipe like she was "revving a motorcycle." Gallagher told another victim that the "pipe" would be soft and moist. An older victim was approached by Gallagher, who asked her to reach behind a dishwasher and hold a pipe but she "knew immediately it was no pipe" as it was warm and soft and felt like a penis. The woman couldn't see it but the shocked woman jumped back and shouted "what the f*** is that?" The woman didn't tell anybody else about the incident that day but felt upset and did later tell her daughter about what had happened. On another occasion, Gallagher asked a young teenage girl to help him with a washing machine and asked her to hold a "pipe". She grabbed the "pipe" and he told her to "hold it there" as he chatted to her about school. However, the girl told how the pipe didn't feel like plastic but was warm and had a rubbery texture and that it felt sticky or sweaty. Another teenager told in her statement how Gallagher asked him to assist her with a tumble dryer and told her to put her hand behind a wooden board and he got her to hold something. He told the girl to hold the "pipe" harder and then to loosen it and then to increase her grip before he said "yeah, that's fine." The young woman then said the pipe was "squishy, wet and warm" and when she stood up she saw Gallagher's penis sticking out from the zipper of his trousers. One young woman eventually came forward and told a person in charge what had happened which led to others coming forward making complaints of a similar nature against Gallagher. Gallagher was interviewed by Gardai on three occasions and initially denied anything untoward had happened. During one interview with Detective Garda Paul McHugh, Gallagher admitted asking one woman to hold a pipe on a tumble dryer as it had been leaking. He claimed the woman had got up and left for no apparent reason and he had been left nervous and embarrassed by the incident. However, he later admitted the offences and entered a guilty plea. Victim impact statements from the women were read out in court while two young women chose to read out their own statements. One young woman fought back tears as she told how despite being the victim she felt ashamed and disgusted by what had happened and often thinks about if she could have stopped this from happening to other women. She added that she often thinks about Gallagher's son and that she prays that he is safe. An older victim said she feels vulnerable and intimidated by what had happened and that she is sorry that she did not speak up sooner but was afraid that people would laugh at her or not believe her. Another victim told how she was a student but failed her exams because she became depressed after Gallagher's assault on her. However, she later completed her exams and was proud of herself and was determined not to allow her attacker to ruin her life further but still feels he stole something from her. A teenage victim said she has been forced to attend counselling because of anxiety and that she is now always on edge and simply cannot trust men. She decided not to come to court as she feared that seeing Gallagher again would trigger her anxiety. Another woman, who now lives abroad and gave her evidence by videolink, told how she lives in an apartment with a lift and if a man gets into the lift she can't stop thinking "what if?" She said she realises that she should not tar all men with the same brush but Gallagher's attack had made her an angrier, wearier and a meaner person as a result. She added that she does feel disgusted by what had happened but sometimes feels glad that he had chosen her and that she had alerted the authorities to what was happening as she hated to think what number of victims there might have been. Gallagher took to the witness stand and said he wanted to apologise to his victims. He said he "truly regretted" his actions and was sorry for the hurt and pain he had caused his victims and their families. Asked by his barrister, Mr Colm Smyth, SC, if he realised this was a huge breach of trust, Gallagher replied that he did. He also revealed that he had engaged in 24 counselling sessions to better understand the impact his actions have had on others. Mr Smyth said his client accepted full responsibility for his actions, that he had now lost his employment and had become a pariah in the local community because of the publicity surrounding the case. He added the fact that the offences took place in a sacred place, a place of pilgrimage for Christian people going back many centuries, also had to be acknowledged. Mr Smyth suggested to Judge John Aylmer that there also has to be "light at the end of the tunnel" for Gallagher, asking him to consider his client's remorse, his blameless life up until now and his guilty plea.
The Journal
04-06-2025
- General
- The Journal
Man who sexually assaulted five women at Lough Derg pilgrimage site jailed for four years
A WORKER AT the Lough Derg pilgrimage site, who lured five women into helping him at the retreat so he could sexually assault them, has been jailed for a total of four years. Tomas Gallagher asked the five female victims to help him repair washing machines and tumble dryers during a series of incidents at the renowned religious setting. A court heard he sexually assaulted the women at the site. Details of the plans hatched by Gallagher were outlined before Letterkenny Circuit Court last week. Gallagher, 42, initially denied the charges in interviews with gardaí. He subsequently pleaded to seven charges in all, four for sexual assaults of adults, two for sexual assault on children and one charge of invitation to a child to sexually touch. Today, having considered reports on Gallagher as well as the statements from his victims, Judge John Aylmer jailed the father-of-one for five years with the last 12 months suspended. He said the crimes, as outlined in the case, were 'egregious acts of violence in a sacred place of pilgrimage'. He told Gallagher that his crimes were 'deceitful' and 'premeditated' and that he placed them in the mid-range for such offences and which merited a sentence of seven years before mitigation. In mitigation, he noted an early plea, the fact that the accused had no previous convictions, that he appeared to be remorseful and ashamed of his actions. Judge Aylmer also noted that Gallagher had undertaken 24 counselling sessions, that he was fully cooperative and that he had been ostracised in the local community. Taking the totality factor into account and that all sentences will run concurrently, Judge Aylmer said he was reducing the overall sentence to one of five years. He then added that with regard to all efforts to encourage rehabilitation and the fact that it needs to be encouraged, he suspended the final twelve months of that sentence, meaning Gallagher will serve four years in prison. He is also to go under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months. Gallagher, from Rathanlacky, Dunkineely pleaded to a total of seven charges against five different women at the holy island on the shores of Lough Derg. He pleaded to six charges of sexual assault at St Patrick's Purgatory. These offences are contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. He also pleaded that in the same period and location, he did attempt, by inviting, inducing, counselling or inciting a child to sexual touching. This offence is contrary to Section 4 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017. The victims, who cannot be named to protect their identity, ranged in age from their early teens to more mature women in their later years. All the offences took place in 2022 when Gallagher worked both as a maintenance man at the retreat, as well as driving a boat taking pilgrims to and from the island. Lured victims by asking for help Barrister for the state, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL and investigating Garda Joanna Doherty outlined the details of the incidents. Statements given to gardaí by the victims told how Gallagher had approached them, asking them to come into a laundry room as he needed help fixing various machines. The statements outlined how the unsuspecting women were asked to reach behind them into the machines while Gallagher fixed a 'pipe'. The women thought they were holding a pipe, but instead they were gripping the accused man's penis. On one occasion, Gallagher told one of his victims to twist the pipe like she was 'revving a motorcycle'. Gallagher told another victim that the 'pipe' would be soft and moist. Advertisement An older victim was approached by Gallagher who asked her to reach behind a dishwasher and hold a pipe, but she 'knew immediately it was no pipe' as it was warm and soft and felt like a penis. The woman couldn't see it, but the shocked woman jumped back and shouted: 'What the fuck is that?' The woman didn't tell anybody else about the incident that day but felt upset and did later tell her daughter about what had happened. On another occasion, Gallagher asked a young teenage girl to help him with a washing machine and asked her to hold a 'pipe'. She grabbed his penis and he told her to 'hold it there' as he chatted to her about school. The girl said how the pipe didn't feel like plastic but was warm and had a rubbery texture, and that it felt sticky or sweaty. Another teenager said Gallagher asked him to assist her with a tumble dryer and told her to put her hand behind a wooden board, and he got her to hold something. He told the girl to hold the 'pipe' harder and then to loosen it and then to increase her grip before he said: 'Yeah, that's fine.' The young woman said the pipe was 'squishy, wet and warm' and when she stood up she saw Gallagher's penis sticking out from the zip of his trousers. Denied accusations with gardaí One young woman eventually came forward and told a person in charge what had happened, which led to others coming forward making complaints of a similar nature against the man. Gallagher was interviewed by gardaí on three occasions and initially denied anything had happened. During one interview with Detective Garda Paul McHugh, Gallagher admitted asking one woman to hold a pipe on a tumble dryer as it had been leaking. He claimed the woman had got up and left for no apparent reason, and he had been left nervous and embarrassed by the incident. He later admitted the offences and entered a guilty plea. Victim impact statements from the women were read out in court, while two young women chose to read out their own statements. Victims feel vulnerable and intimidated One young woman fought back tears as she told how despite being the victim, she felt ashamed and disgusted by what had happened and often thinks about if she could have stopped this from happening to other women. She added that she often thinks about Gallagher's son and that she prays that he is safe. An older victim said she feels vulnerable and intimidated by what had happened and that she is sorry that she did not speak up sooner, but was afraid that people would laugh at her or not believe her. Another victim told how she was a student but failed her exams because she became depressed after Gallagher's assault on her. She later completed her exams and was proud of herself and was determined not to allow her attacker to ruin her life further. She said she still feels he stole something from her. A teenage victim said she has been forced to attend counselling because of anxiety and that she is now always on edge and simply cannot trust men. She decided not to come to court, as she feared that seeing Gallagher again would trigger her anxiety. Another woman, who now lives abroad and gave her evidence by video link, said she lives in an apartment with a lift and if a man gets into the lift she can't stop thinking 'what if?' She said she realises that she should not tar all men with the same brush, but Gallagher's attack had made her an angrier, wearier and a meaner person as a result. She added that she does feel disgusted by what had happened but sometimes feels glad that he had chosen her and that she had alerted the authorities to what was happening as she hated to think what number of victims there might have been. Man apologises Gallagher took to the witness stand and said he wanted to apologise to his victims. He said he 'truly regretted' his actions and was sorry for the hurt and pain he had caused his victims and their families. Asked by his barrister, Mr Colm Smyth, SC, if he realised this was a huge breach of trust, Gallagher replied that he did. He said he had engaged in 24 counselling sessions to better understand the impact his actions have had on others. Mr Smyth said his client accepted full responsibility for his actions, that he had now lost his employment and had become a pariah in the local community because of the publicity surrounding the case. He added the fact that the offences took place in a sacred place, a place of pilgrimage for Christian people going back many centuries, also had to be acknowledged. Mr Smyth suggested to Judge John Aylmer that there also has to be 'light at the end of the tunnel' for Gallagher, asking him to consider his client's remorse, his blameless life up until now and his guilty plea. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
03-06-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (69) jailed for engaging in a sexual act with his daughter who has an intellectual disability
A man who 'betrayed' his adult daughter, who has an intellectual disability, by engaging in a sexual act with her, has been jailed for eight years. The 69-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two counts at the Central Criminal Court of engaging in a sexual act with a protected person in Leinster on February 7th 2023. Advertisement He has no previous convictions. The woman has a moderate intellectual disability. She now lives in a residential care setting. Passing sentence on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said this is a very serious offence with a maximum sentence of life in prison. He said, 'As a father, he betrayed her.' Advertisement Mr Justice McDermott said, 'These offences were committed by her father – he could do whatever he liked.' Mr Justice McDermott sentenced the defendant to nine years in prison but suspended the final year for a period of two years. He also placed the man under the supervision of the Probation Services for five years and directed him to undertake any courses they deem appropriate. The judge said that the man is to have no contact with his daughter without her consent and only then under very strict supervision. Advertisement Finally, he backdated the sentence to when the defendant went into custody. At a previous hearing, an investigating garda told the court the injured party is in her mid-30s and has moderate intellectual disability. The court heard the woman was given a course on sexuality, and she disclosed during that meeting that she had never shared a bed with a man before, except with her father, who had not worn a condom. Specialist garda interviewers spoke to the victim, and she was moved into residential care after the abuse was disclosed. Advertisement The investigating garda agreed with Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC, defending, that a trial date was fixed for March this year, but a guilty plea had been entered, saving the woman from having to give evidence in front of a jury. The garda also accepted that the man had no previous convictions and that his wife had passed away a number of years ago, meaning he became his daughter's main carer. A social worker gave evidence that the woman has good independent skills and is a kind and caring person who masks her emotions. She told Mr Vincent Heneghan, SC, prosecuting, that the injured party had not availed of any counselling, and the abuse continues to affect her daily life. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at or visit Rape Crisis Help.
