Court sitting in Offaly hears boy was 15 when he had sex with 12-year-old girl

Guilty plea entered and defence counsel said accused believed victim was 'well over 15' at time of offence

Published 29th Apr 2026, 13:30 BST Updated 1st May 2026, 10:04 BST Guilty plea entered at Tullamore Circuit Court Guilty plea entered and defence counsel said accused believed victim was 'well over 15' at time of offence Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

A YOUNG man who is now 20 will be sentenced in June after pleading guilty to having sex with a girl when she was 12 and he was 15.

The accused appeared before Tullamore Circuit Court where he admitted a single charge of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under 17 years of age in 2021.

Judge Ronan Munro was told by defence counsel that while the complainant was 12 at the time of the offence, the accused believed she was “well over 15”.

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On the application of the defence, Judge Munro directed the preparation of a forensic psychological report and a probation report in advance of a sentencing hearing which will take place during the June sessions of Tullamore Circuit Court.

Related topics: Offaly News Tullamore Circuit Court Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.