Man (69) sexually assaulted carer in shower, court hears

A 69-year-old nursing home resident pleasured himself in a shower while being washed by two women care assistants, a court has heard.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Michael Mason of Sheeaun, Scarriff, Co Clare, who uses a wheelchair, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault in October 2015 of one of the assistants, aged 20 at the time.

Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly told the court that as the care assistant dried Mr Mason’s feet, he started to stroke her hair and asked her to perform a sex act on him.

Mr Connolly said Mr Mason told the assistant “what he would do to her” and said she “should have loads of energy in the bedroom”.

Mr Connolly said the victim told gardaí that while in the shower, Mr Mason said: “I was nearly there and ye ruined it.”

“She told him to stop talking in that fashion and he wouldn’t like it if someone talked to his daughter like that.”

The victim said it “was sickening” and “really got to her” and “he didn’t let go until they were putting on his jumper”, Mr Connolly said.

Garda Brion Dolan said the victim asked Mr Mason several times in the shower to stop pleasuring himself but he continued.

Judge Gerald Keys remanded Mr Mason on bail for sentence to July 20th.