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Eleven people have appeared in court charged with more than 200 counts relating to the alleged rape, sexual exploitation and neglect of children.
The six women and five men, who range in age from their 20s to 70s, were arrested on Saturday and brought before a court charged with a total of 212 counts which also include sexual assault and cruelty to a child. The court heard evidence relating to four alleged victims, including two boys and two girls.
The arrests follow a two-year long investigation led by specially trained officers attached to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.
The court, the location of which cannot be identified for legal reasons, was told by a Garda Inspector that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that all of the charges against the 11 accused proceed to a trial on indictment at the Central Criminal Court.
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Eleven Garda witnesses gave evidence in court of the arrest, charge, and cautioning of each accused. Specific evidence relating to the alleged offences was not disclosed in court.
The judge imposed reporting restrictions prohibiting the naming of the accused, in order to protect the identities of the alleged victims, and the identification of any locations linked to the alleged offences.
‘Vulnerable’
The judge said the alleged victims were “vulnerable” and “entitled to their anonymity”.
A female accused, in her 30s, was charged with six counts of child neglect/cruelty; 13 counts of sexual exploitation; and 17 counts of sexual assault on a child.
A male accused, in his 50s, was charged with six counts of child neglect/cruelty; 14 counts of sexual assault; 11 counts of rape; and 12 counts of sexual assault.
Another woman, in her 30s, was charged with eight counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation.
A man in his 20s was charged with five counts of rape; 16 counts of sexual assault; and 18 counts of sexual exploitation.
A man in his 40s, who was charged with 10 counts of rape; 12 counts of sexual assault; and seven counts of sexual exploitation.
Another female accused, in her 30s, was charged with 14 counts of sexual assault as well as 14 counts of sexual exploitation.
Another female, in her 50s, was charged with eight counts of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual exploitation.
A man, in his 70s, was charged with five counts of sexual assault, and four counts of sexual exploitation.
Another male, in his 30s, was charged with two counts of sexual assault.
A fifth female defendant, aged in her 30s, is accused of two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation.
A sixth female accused, aged in her 30s, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation.
Free legal aid was granted to all 11 accused.
Conditions
Gardaí are preparing a book of evidence in respect of all the accused, who were all remanded on strict bail conditions to appear in court on November 21st for mention of the case.
Each of them were ordered not to make contact with four named individuals, either directly, indirectly through a third party or via social media.
They were ordered to surrender their passports, sign on weekly at garda stations, notify gardaí of any change in their address, notify gardaí of their contact telephone number and be available on this number at all times to investigators.