An 80-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the indecent assault of five boys over a six-year period at locations in Clare and Limerick.
At Ennis Circuit Court, the man - who turns 81 in May - has pleaded guilty to 12 separate counts of indecent assault against the five boys from 1976 to 1981 at four locations in Clare and Limerick.
The man was aged 33 to 38 during the period of the indecent assaults.
The counts of indecent assault took place at Cratloe in south-east Clare, Holy Island on Lough Derg, Garryowen, Limerick and the Ennis Rd Limerick.
The accused initially faced 26 counts when charged in the district court and counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly BL (instructed by State Solicitor, Aisling Casey) said that the pleas were acceptable on a full facts basis.
Mr Connolly asked that Judge Francis Comerford seek victim impact statements from the five complainants in the case for the sentencing hearing.
Counsel for the accused, Mark Nicholas SC said that the offences “go back some time” and said that a psychologist’s report on the accused would be appropriate.
Mr Connolly said that the prosecution was anxious that there would be no undue delay in sentencing and that it would take place “in early course” commenting that the accused had a date of birth in 1943.
Mr Connolly said that there is no familial link between the accused and the victims. Mr Nicholas asked that reporting restrictions continue for the couple of months to the sentencing hearing and Judge Comerford said that reporting restrictions can continue to that date.
Judge Comerford said that he hoped that the sentencing hearing would take sometime in April.
The court was told that the sentencing hearing “will take some time”.
The allegations have been investigated by the Protective Services Unit attached to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick since 2019.
Judge Francis Comerford further remanded the man on bail and as part of his bail conditions and as part of the man’s bail conditions, the accused is to have no contact with the witnesses directly or indirectly, surrender his passport, reside at a Clare address and sign on twice-weekly at his local Garda station.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
