Inmate admits admiring man's 'arse’ in Laois prison

A court heard a prisoner who admired another inmate's bottom also allegedly grabbed the man by the genitals.

The man (49), who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, admitted grabbing the man by his backside and saying “you have a lovely arse” but denied grabbing him by the genitals. He appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of sexual assault at the Midlands Prison on November 10, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the incident happened shortly after the men had been in the horticultural area of the prison. Sgt Kirby said the man approached the injured party from behind and “said, I quote, ‘I love your arse’” to the man. 

Sgt Kirby said the defendant later approached the injured party in the canteen and enquired about a book. 

Sgt Kirby said it would be alleged the man all of a sudden, “grabbed the injured party by his  genital area and he grabbed him again by the gential area. The injured party didn’t say anything, he was shocked.” He said the accused had no permission to grab the man and the accused “laughed” after the incident. 

Judge Susan Fay said “I didn’t hear about grabbing genitals when I accepted jurisdiction”. 

Sgt Kirby said the allegation was that he grabbed the man by his genital area and “he grabbed him by his backside in the canteen”.

Judge Fay told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that she hadn’t been informed of two incidents. She said she didn’t remember hearing about the allegation regarding the man’s genitals. 

Andrew Dunne BL said there was no mention of the incident at the previous hearing. 

“He did make full admissions in relation to groping of the backside,” said Mr Dunne. 

Mr Dunne said his client denied grabbing the man’s genitals. 

Sgt Kirby said that while the injured party made allegations in relation to both incidents, the DPP decided to only charge the man in relation to grabbing the injured party by the backside. 

Judge Fay then asked which facts she was to sentence the man in relation to. 

Sgt Kirby said it related to the allegation “of grabbing the gent by the behind and passing comment”. He said the accused had 77 previous convictions in total.

Judge Fay said she would need a victim impact statement and she asked when the defendant was due for release.  Mr Dunne said the man wasn’t due for release until 2031. 

Judge Fay ordered a probation report and asked that the injured party be canvassed for a victim impact statement. She adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on June 6, 2026.