This article is from page 1 of the 2006-10-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
A PRIMARY school teacher in Clare has appeared before Ennis District Court, charged with 69 counts of sexual assault.
The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and who has an address in Clare, is facing the charges arising out of alleged incidents on a number of dates between 2001 and 2004.
The charges relate to the alleged abuse of several young boys.
Garda Denis Collins told the court on Friday he arrested the accused on October 8 last.
When charged at Ennis Garda Station the accused replied, “no comment” after each charge.
The alleged assaults are understood to have occurred at various locations, including at the defendant’s home and the school where he taught.
Inspector Kevin Moynihan (prosecuting) told the court that the State did not have any objection to a remand on continuing bail to appear in court early next year, to facilitiate the preparation of the Book of Evidence.
Inspector Moynihan said the DPP has directed to a trial on indictment and he applied to extend time to serve the Book of Evidence.
There was no objection from the accused’s solicitor, Ted McCarthy.
Judge Joseph Mangan agreed to the request. He adjourned the case until early in 2007.