A convicted paedophile who exposed himself to children in a Galway suburb was remanded on continuing bail when he appeared before Galway District Court yesterday.
Mr James Stockdale (40), a native of Belfast, was staying in a rented house in the city last August when he exposed himself in front of children playing in a neighbouring house. He pleaded guilty to two counts.
Det Garda Bernard McNulty gave evidence that Mr Stock dale, who was sentenced to four years at Bristol Crown Court, England, for indecent assault, came to Ireland some time ago and was staying in rented accommodation in Galway.
On August 16th he twice went into his back garden and exposed himself in front of five children, aged between five and 10, playing in the upstairs bedroom of a nearby house. The children did not tell their parents because they were terrified of what might happen to them.
Two days later Mr Stockdale repeated the offence twice in front of two children. A four-year-old boy who witnessed the second offence told his parents that evening. Gardai interviewed Mr Stockdale, who freely admitted his guilt.
Parents told gardai they and their children had been terrified since the ordeal. Parents wished to have the accused named but asked that the address where the offences occurred be withheld.
Det Garda McNulty said that while Mr Stockdale had expressed remorse he (Det Garda McNulty) felt it was only a matter of time before he reoffended, and he agreed with Mr Adrian MacLynn, defending, that Mr Stockdale needed treatment.
Mr MacLynn said his client accepted he had a very serious problem. He asked that any custodial sentence include a recommendation for such treatment while his client was in custody.
Judge William Earley said he would not impose sentence for such an offence without obtaining psychiatric and probation reports. He remanded Mr Stockdale on bail for the preparation of such reports, to appear before the court on October 24th, on condition he obtain psychiatric treatment in the meantime and sign on daily at Galway Garda station.
The accused told the judge he was a native of Belfast and had come from there to the court. He then offered the court an address in Sligo town, where he would reside until his next court appearance.
Judge Earley remanded him on bail on condition he sign on daily at a Garda station in Sligo.