Courts / Dublin / Report

Creche worker abused girls in 'furtive, audacious' manner, prosecution tell jury

Summary

The prosecution presented evidence that a 29‑year‑old childcare worker sexually assaulted four girls aged five to eight between August 2014 and December 2016 at a Leinster crèche. The accused faced 23 counts, including touching the girls' vaginas, licking a girl's vagina, and pressing a phone against a girl's vagina. He denied all charges. The prosecution argued that the assaults were carried out in a "quick, furtive, audacious" manner, often in blind spots of the crèche such as a book corner, a toilet cubicle, a windowsill and the crèche bus. The defence portrayed the worker as a sincere, responsible carer who sought help to manage physical contact and claimed the allegations were false or fabricated by the children. The jury heard closing arguments from both sides before the trial resumed on Wednesday before Judge Elma Sheahan.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Creche worker abused girls in 'furtive, audacious' manner, prosecution tell jury. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• August 2014 Other
• December 2016 Other
• 2020-03-16 Publication

Why: The jurors sat spread out across the court room, rather than just in the jury box, in order to maintain the recommended social distancing in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report