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06 Sept 2025

Elderly man admits indecently assaulting five young boys

Offending occurred over a six-year period nearly 50 years ago

Elderly man admits indecently assaulting five young boys

Ennis Courthouse | FILE PHOTO

Reporter:

Gordon Deegan

28 Feb 2024 4:04 PM

An 80-year old man has admitted indecently assaulting five boys over a six year period.
At Ennis Circuit Court this Wednesday, the man - who turns 81 in May - pleaded guilty to 12 separate counts of indecent assault. The offences took place on dates between 1976 and 1981 at four different locations across Limerick and Clare.
The man was aged 33 when the offending began.
The court was told the offences took place at Cratloe and Holy Island on Lough Derg in Co. Clare and in the Garryowen and Ennis Road areas of 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 are acceptable on the basis that the full facts will be outlined to the court.
Mr Connolly asked that Judge Francis Comerford seek victim impact statements from the five complainants in the case ahead of the sentencing hearing.
Counsel for the accused, Mark Nicholas SC said the offences “go back some time” and he submitted that a psychologist’s report on the accused would be appropriate.
Mr Connolly said 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 has a date of birth in 1943.
Mr Connolly informed the court that there is no familial link between the accused and the victims.
Mr Nicholas asked that reporting restrictions remain in place pending the conclusion of the sentencing hearing.
Judge Comerford, who granted the application, said 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 members of the Protective Services Unit attached to Henry Street garda station in Limerick since 2019.

Judge Francis Comerford further remanded the man on bail subject to his compliance with a number of conditions.

He is to have no contact with the witnesses directly or indirectly and he must reside at a Clare address.

The accused was ordered to surrender his passport and to sign on twice weekly at his local garda station.

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