A 70-year-old Rosmuc man who exposed himself to schoolgirls attending an Irish school last year and offered them money for sex has been remanded in custody for one week.
Joe Finnerty, a bachelor, appeared in custody before Galway District Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to three charges of indecently exposing himself to young female students near his home on three occasions between July 14th and 27th last year.
He also pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female care assistant while he was convalescing after a burst appendix at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, on September 13th last.
Sgt Seamus Keaveney said the accused had used a caravan beside his home, which faces onto the road, to expose himself to children attending the local Irish school last summer. Finnerty, he said, used to stand inside the window and expose himself to the children as they walked by.
On a few occasions he also offered the girls money to perform sexual acts on him. The children were so traumatised that gardaí had to call in social services to provide counselling for them, Sgt Keaveney said.
Finnerty had been granted bail in December on condition he keep away from the caravan and not reoffend but he breached the bail conditions late last year and was taken back into custody.
Defence solicitor Sarah O’Dowd said a medical report handed into court stated that a head injury sustained by Finnerty last June when he fell may have contributed to his offending behaviour, along with his addiction to alcohol.
Judge Mary Fahy said she wanted the caravan moved away or boarded up.
The judge adjourned the matter for one week but indicated she would be imposing a suspended sentence with strict conditions, including alcohol treatment.