Courts / Dublin / Report
Retired teacher seeks to prevent trial on abuse charges dating back almost 50 years
Summary
A retired schoolteacher in his seventies has filed a High Court application to stop a trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court over 16 alleged indecent assault charges against nine boys, dating from September 1968 to 1971. He claims the prosecution is unfair because the Director of Public Prosecutions delayed action, the alleged incidents are so old that key witnesses are deceased, and that proceeding would breach his constitutional and human rights. The teacher denies the allegations and says he has cooperated with Gardaí since his first interview. He also seeks declarations that the prosecution would be unlawful and that it would be unjust to put him on trial. The High Court, on an ex‑parte basis, granted permission to bring the challenge and placed a stay on the trial until the High Court case is decided, with a return date set for October.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Retired teacher seeks to prevent trial on abuse charges dating back almost 50 years. Charges or matters: 25 counts of indecent assault, but his trial on those charges was prohibited by the High Court. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- September 1968 Hearing Or Sentence
- 1968 and 1971 Other
- 2017-07-17 Publication
Why: The man claims that he is prejudiced because the DPP delayed in commencing the criminal proceedings, and that the alleged events happened so long ago that important witnesses are no longer alive. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: 25 counts of indecent assault, but his trial on those charges was prohibited by the High Court (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
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