Seven family members plead not guilty to sexual abuse charges

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Seven unnamed family members are on trial for alleged sexual abuse at the Central Criminal Court, with an enlarged jury sworn; the proceedings were reported on 31 May 2021.

Each defendant has pleaded not guilty. The charges include rape, section 4 rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, assault and neglect; the parents also face neglect charges involving five children. Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the jury that neither the children nor the accused could be identified. The trial is being heard in camera at temporary courtroom facilities in Croke Park.