A Co Wexford man has pleaded not guilty to 34 sexually related charges.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Alice Doyle at Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, where he pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of indecent assault and one charge of sexual assault on four children aged between 10 and 15 over a 12-year period, from 1981 to 1993.
The defendant is appearing before a jury of seven women and five men, with the trial expected to last until Thursday next.
One of the complainants, in evidence, recalled being brought into the defendant’s office after being accused of taking money.
He was told to empty his pockets, which he did, and 50p fell out. The defendant asked him if he wanted to call his parents or the gardaí. “I said whatever he wanted. I was 12 years of age at the time.” He said the defendant then sexually assaulted him.