Sex offender jailed for hugging and kissing heads of boys at McDonald’s in Cork city

The Irish Times · Barry Roche · 2026-11-06 07:00 UTC

Man with previous convictions did not accept verdict or show remorse, Cork Circuit Criminal Court hears

A convicted child sex abuser has been jailed for 3½ years for the sexual assault of six boys after he was observed hugging and rubbing their heads in a fast food outlet by a woman who became alarmed at his behaviour and contacted gardaí.

Daniel Connolly (46) from Cork had denied eight counts of sexually assaulting the boys on three separate dates in August and September 2023 at a McDonald’s outlet in Cork city.

However, the jury convicted him on all counts, seven unanimously and one by a majority verdict after a five-day trial.

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