A RETIRED Co Clare primary school teacher appeared in court yesterday charged in relation to the indecent assault of 11 females from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s.
At Kilrush District Court yesterday, Det Oliver Downes gave evidence that he served the book of evidence on the accused, who is in his 70s, at court yesterday.
The alleged 67 offences occurred on dates between September 1st, 1975 and June 6th, 1981.
Supt Gerry Wall said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the case going forward to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court on February 14th next.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy told the accused that if any part of his defence included an alibi, he should inform gardaí within 14 days. The accused, responded “I do” when asked by Judge McCarthy if he understood the alibi warning.
Solicitor for the accused, Jenny Fitzgibbon, said that it is not a case where legal aid is an issue as her client is not on legal aid.
Ms Fitzgibbon said that on the last court date in September, reporting restrictions were imposed banning the publication of the accused’s name. Judge McCarthy said that the usual reporting restrictions would apply.
Supt Wall said the alleged 11 victims have told gardaí they have no objection to reporting restrictions being lifted. Ms Fitzgibbon said she had no notice of this and the matter was dealt with on the previous court date.
Judge McCarthy said: “This is a new situation.” He said that restrictions are imposed on the publication of an accused’s name to protect the identity of alleged victims. He said he would prefer if the alleged injured parties were in court to state if they wished to waive their anonymity.
The judge McCarthy said that the reporting restrictions would remain.
The accused is on bail on his own bond of €500 and was yesterday further remanded on bail to appear before Ennis Circuit Court next February.
