A FORMER school principal facing 87 counts of indecent assault on seven girls has failed to have her trial moved to another location.
Geraldine Biggs, defending, made the application before Judge Anthony Kennedy at a Circuit Court sitting in the midlands yesterday.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1973 and 1977.
The woman, who is in her 60s, personally taught 450 children at the school where a further 5,000 children attended during her tenure, Ms Biggs said.
She requested a transfer to Sligo Circuit Court as it was geographically the furthest available court where the case might be heard.
In the event of a jury being selected in the midlands, “the defence perceive that there is a risk that there may be an unfair trial”, argued Ms Biggs.
“Our fear is that a jury member or more then one jury member may know something of the allegations,” she added.
Pádraic Hogan, prosecuting, opposed the transfer application. A move to Sligo would be expensive and difficult for the alleged victims, he claimed.
However, Judge Kennedy said neither expense nor convenience could override justice.
Ms Biggs expressed her belief that word of the case had spread in the local area.
She said there were seven complainants and “I think two more have come forward”.
If the trial were to take place in the midlands, “there may be a danger of influence”, Ms Biggs added.
The judge reminded Ms Biggs that it was customary for a jury to be asked whether they had any knowledge of or connection with anyone involved in a case.
He described as “speculative” any suggestion that a jury might be influenced.
Ms Biggs told the judge that “the accused was known not just among the complainants, but the entire school by a particular nickname”. She again expressed her belief that word had spread in the locality.
“We don’t know how far it has spread,” she added.
The judge said he was “not at all persuaded” and he refused the transferral application.
The case was adjourned to the next scheduled sitting of the court.