Cork garda on six sex assault charges

A 49-year-old garda based in Co Cork was yesterday remanded on bail after he was charged with six counts of sexually assaulting three young females over a nine- year period.

The officer, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the three complainants, was arrested yesterday and charged with the offences at Macroom District Court in Co Cork.

The man is charged with two counts of sexually assaulting one of the complainants between February 1999 and March 2001 when she was aged between 17 and 19 years.

He is further charged with one count of sexually assaulting another complainant between May 1992 and April 1995 when she was aged between 12 and 15 years.

He was also charged with three counts of sexually assaulting a third female complainant between March 1993 and March 1995 when she was aged between 12 and 14.

Supt Vincent Duggan told Judge James McNulty that the accused answered "no reply" when each of the six charges was put to him after caution following his arrest.

Insp Seán Healy said the Garda was not objecting to bail and was looking for a remand until January when it is expected a book of evidence will be ready to be served.

Insp Healy said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the matter being dealt with by way of indictment at Circuit Criminal Court level.

However, Insp Healy said he was seeking a prohibition on publication for the accused's name as it was feared that it could lead to the identification of the injured parties.

Judge McNulty agreed and ordered that the accused not be named and remanded him on his own bail of €1,000 to appear again at Macroom District Court on January 17th.