Courts / Dublin / Report
Serving garda acquitted of historic sex abuse
Summary
A serving Garda, aged 56, was acquitted by a jury of three counts of indecent assault on a boy aged 6 or 7 between 1979 and 1982. The complainant, now 46, alleged the Garda had assaulted him in a Dublin address and in a green area, including touching his penis and a third incident involving a bike ride and chocolate. The Garda denied all allegations, claiming they never occurred. The defence highlighted inconsistencies, such as the bedroom layout and the presence of childminders, and argued that memory could have faded over the decades. The prosecution presented the complainant's testimony as clear and compelling. After a two‑week trial at Croke Park, the jury returned not‑guilty verdicts on all three counts following a four‑hour deliberation. Judge Karen O'Connor thanked the jury for their service. The unnamed 56-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Serving garda acquitted of historic sex abuse. Charges or matters: three counts of indecently assaulting the boy at a Dublin address and in a green area between April 1979 and May 1982. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- April 1979 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 1982 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-04-29 Publication
Why: The defence also pointed to a number of childminders who minded the boy shortly after the accused man's mother, including one childminder who was let go because she was letting "undesirable" people into the boy's house. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: three counts of indecently assaulting the boy at a Dublin address and in a green area between April 1979 and May 1982 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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