Courts / Ireland / Report

Closing stages in trial of school soccer coach accused of raping student

Summary

The Central Criminal Court has entered the closing stages of a trial involving a 61‑year‑old school soccer coach accused of raping and defiling a teenage student. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape, all alleged to have occurred at unknown locations in the State between September 2007 and February 2010. The complainant was aged 15 to 18 at the time of the alleged offences, while the accused was aged 45 to 47. The judge directed the jury that the defendant would be found not guilty of the 30 sexual assault charges, leaving the four defilement counts, the rape count and the anal rape count for consideration. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy SC urged the jury to be satisfied that the complainant was under 17 and that the accused knew this, citing corroborating evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Closing stages in trial of school soccer coach accused of raping student. Charges or matters: 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape at unknown locations within the State on dates between September 2007 and February 2010. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Acquitted

When:

• September 2007 Incident
• February 2010 Incident
• 2024-07-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report