A Dublin man yesterday admitted sexually abusing two daughters and a male relative in the 1960s and 1970s. The former soldier, who is in his 60s, admitted nine indecent assault charges which spanned 11 years. He was remanded on continuing bail for sentence by Mr Justice Budd in the Central Criminal Court on June 10th.
He had originally faced trial on 17 sample charges out of an indictment containing 71. Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, said his client knew the court would have to impose a custodial sentence but he needed time to put his house in order before being jailed.
On Monday the man pleaded not guilty to the 17 sample charges and the case was adjourned. When the trial opened yesterday, he pleaded guilty to three charges of indecently assaulting his male relative on unknown dates from November 1971 to December 1977 when the boy was aged about eight to 14, and to indecently assaulting one of his daughters three times between 1973, when she was seven, and 1978.
He also admitted a further three charges of indecently assaulting his second daughter between January 1967, when she was seven, and March 1971.