Courts / Waterford / Report

Waterford couple stand trial charged with sexual abuse of son

Date
2016-04-05

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Waterford

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a Waterford couple faced 82 charges of sexual abuse and exploitation of their son, aged between five and nine, and the father was also accused of raping him with a poker over a four‑year period. The parents denied all allegations, claiming the boy was a "difficult child" with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and behavioural problems. They pleaded not guilty to 16 counts each of sexual exploitation and one charge each of child cruelty, while the mother also denied 16 counts of sexual assault and the father denied 16 counts of anal rape and 16 counts of sexual assault with a poker. The prosecution presented a medical examination that found no physical trauma but did not rule out sexual abuse. The boy, now 12, was to testify in the ongoing trial before Mr Justice Robert Eagar.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Waterford couple stand trial charged with sexual abuse of son. Charges or matters: 16 counts each of sexual exploitation and one charge each of child cruelty. Procedural stage: trial

When:

2007 and 2011 Incident
2016-04-05 Publication

Why: Counsel said that gardaí then spoke to the boy again who told them the allegations were true and that he had said they weren't because he was afraid of the forthcoming trial. CNI source report