A CO CLARE school teacher appeared in court yesterday charged with 14 sexual offences against a teenage girl.
The charges state that 13 of the alleged offences occurred at a Co Clare school over eight weeks between September and November of last year.
The man, aged 60 – who cannot be named for legal reasons – is facing 10 counts of the sexual exploitation and four of the defilement of the girl who was aged 15 in relation to 11 of the 14 charges.
He is also facing seven counts of sexually exploiting the girl, then aged 15, at the school between Tuesday, September 15th, and Tuesday, October 20th, last year.
The girl turned 16 during the period of the alleged offences and the man is facing an additional three counts of sexually exploiting the girl, then aged 16, on November 6th and twice on November 12th last year at the school.
He is also charged with engaging in a sexual act contrary to section 3 (1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 and with having oral sex with the girl at the school on October 23rd and November 3rd. He is facing the same charge at another location in Co Clare on October 24th.
The man only said in court “yes it is” to confirm his identity.
In court yesterday, Det Sgt Michael Moloney gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that he arrested the accused at his home at 9.15am yesterday.
Det Sgt Moloney said he made no reply in response to each of the 14 charges.
His solicitor, Gearóid Howard, applied that full restrictions on reporting be made due to the gravity of the charges, the age of the complainant, the location where the offences are alleged to have occurred and the circumstances in the case.
Mr Howard said: “The reason I am seeking the reporting restrictions is that if the defendant is identified, it will assist greatly in the identity of the complainant.”
Det Garda Moloney said the complainant did not wish to be identified “in any respect”.
Insp Tom Kennedy of Ennis Garda station said that “normal restrictions could apply” and Judge Joseph Mangan ordered that the normal restrictions would apply.
Insp Kennedy said there was no objection to bail on condition that the man provide his own bond of €5,000 and an independent surety of €10,000.
Insp Kennedy said other conditions of the man’s bail included that he surrender his passport, sign on each Wednesday at a Garda station and stay at the address in his charge sheet.
Insp Kennedy also stated that the accused was to have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the alleged injured party or any witnesses in the case.
Insp Kennedy said that the case could be adjourned to July 28th to Ennis District Court for the serving of a book of evidence.
Judge Mangan remanded the man on conditional bail to that date. He later left the court after signing his bail bond.
