Former Judge’s Rape Conviction Upheld | Cork News

Cork News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 10, 2026 · 1m

A former judge convicted of decades-old sexual abuse has lost his appeal, sealing his four-year prison sentence. Gerard O’Brien, 61, was found guilty of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault involving six young men from 1991–1997. Initially denying everything, he later admitted to consensual sex with two victims and oral sex with another, claiming he mistakenly thought consent was given. His defense argued the trial judge’s instructions were biased, but the Court of Appeal rejected that, affirming the judge properly emphasized jury discretion and fair witness standards…