Courts / Ireland / Report

Sports coach told gardai he'd never heard of two abuse complainants

Summary

A sports coach accused of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s told gardaí he had never heard of some of the complainants. During his trial, the accused, now 77, claimed that two of the complainants were never in his house and that he had never heard of a third. He was originally charged with 79 counts but pleaded guilty to five of them. The prosecution alleges that the abuse included kissing, inappropriate touching, and attempted rape. The man has pleaded not guilty to the remaining 73 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. The alleged offences occurred between 1971 and 1981, and the complainants came forward to gardai between 2021 and 2022. The prosecution case has now closed, and the jury will reconvene the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sports coach told gardai he'd never heard of two abuse complainants. Charges or matters: five of them; 74 counts of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s; a total of 73 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape; pertain to a further five counts of indecently assaulting one of these complainants – the first complainant – on dates between May and September 1976; 29 counts of indecent assault in relation to the first complainant on dates. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 1976 Other
• 1971 and 1981 Incident
• 2021 and 2022 Incident
• 1975 and 1977 Incident
• 1971 and 1975 Incident
• 1980 and 1981 Incident
• 2026-06-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report