A man in the Republic of Ireland has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the unlawful termination of a woman’s pregnancy. The incident involved forcing the woman to ingest abortion pills and subsequently confining her to a room.
Adeleke Adelani, who is presently serving a seven-year sentence for a different offense, had previously admitted to unlawfully ending the life of a fetus on February 14, 2020, in Letterkenny, County Donegal. This admission came before a jury was selected for his trial, which had been scheduled for November 2025.
During the proceedings at Letterkenny Circuit Court, Judge John Alymer characterized Adelani’s actions as an extreme act of both physical and emotional violence. He imposed an 11-year prison sentence for the unlawful termination of the pregnancy, with the final two years suspended. Additionally, Adelani received a five-year sentence for assault causing harm, with the last 12 months suspended. These sentences are to be served concurrently.
Victim’s Impact Statement
In a victim impact statement presented to the court, the woman conveyed her forgiveness towards the defendant. She clarified that this forgiveness did not imply an acceptance of his actions but rather a refusal to allow the events to continue dictating her emotional state and life.
She elaborated on the profound loss she experienced. “When he wrongfully imprisoned me and caused the termination of my nine-week pregnancy, he took far more than my freedom,” she stated. “He took my child. He took my sense of safety. He took a future that I had already begun to plan and love.”
Background of the Pregnancy
The court was informed that the woman had become pregnant by Adelani in 2019, and at that time, both had agreed to terminate the pregnancy. However, when she became pregnant again in 2020, her decision was to carry the baby to term.
Adelani invited the woman to his residence in Donegal on Valentine’s Day 2020. He had led her to believe that he also wanted to keep the baby. The court heard that following a face-to-face discussion, he coerced her into taking medication typically prescribed by medical professionals within a controlled setting.
According to the prosecution, Adelani threatened to harm the nine-week-old fetus if she refused to take the abortion pills. After forcing her to ingest the medication, Adelani reportedly left to purchase a pregnancy test.
Police Involvement and Evidence
The woman, whom Adelani had met via Snapchat, then contacted the gardaí (Irish police). Officers arrived at the residence at approximately 2:20 PM on February 14, 2020, and arrested Adelani at the scene. His phone was seized.
The phone remained locked for four years, as Adelani withheld the PIN. Law enforcement officials gained access to the device before his scheduled trial the previous year. A recorded conversation from the phone, featuring Adelani telling the woman she had to have an abortion, was played in court.
The court heard that Adelani compelled the woman to ingest five 200mg misoprostol tablets. He instructed her on how to take them before locking her in a bedroom. Following this, the woman experienced physical distress, including a fever, shivering, and severe cramps, according to testimony.
Court’s Assessment and Sentencing
“Extremely premeditated,” was how Detective Inspector Paul McGee described the offense during police interviews. Adelani offered no admissions and exhibited non-compliant behavior, reportedly not viewing the woman as a girlfriend.
In a letter addressed to his victim and read in court, Adelani stated he now accepts full responsibility for his actions and offered profound apologies for the distress he caused. Judge Alymer emphasized that the act of unlawfully ending the victim’s pregnancy was “extremely premeditated” and involved “a great deal of internet research.” The judge noted Adelani’s full awareness of the victim’s desire to keep her baby and the anticipated severe emotional distress resulting from a non-consensual termination.
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Paul McGee commended the victim for her “unwavering strength and resolve.”