Sex abuse man is attacked in dock

Pervert bloodied after pair assault him inside court

THE sentencing of a man for the sex abuse of two young girls was halted after he was assaulted in the dock in a “serious breach of security”.

Two males approached the pervert at the Criminal Courts of Justice while evidence was being heard and a scuffle ensued.

They were restrained and removed from the chamber by prison staff and gardai.

The 46-year-old predator, who is from Dublin, was left bleeding following the assault and was taken to get medical attention.

This occurred while the prosecuting garda was giving evidence of the abuse.

Mr Justice Paul Burns said the events represented “a serious breach of security” and what occurred would have to be investigated by the Courts Service. He said further steps may have to be taken to secure the safety of persons in the building.

Mr Justice Burns told those present: “I know emotions can rise high in Central Criminal Court cases but this is not an excuse for this type of behaviour.”

After order was restored, he added what had taken place was unacceptable.

The judge noted the convicted man had been the subject of an assault and one of the injured parties, who was present in the court room, was clearly traumatised by what she had witnessed.

The judge said he assumed appropriate steps would be taken in relation to what had happened. The pervert was convicted following a Central Criminal Court last December of 11 counts of sexual abuse against one girl on dates between 2019 and 2020.

The child was aged between 15 and 16 years old at the time.

He was also convicted of one count of causing a child to watch pornography in relation to a second teenage girl, aged between 14 and 15 years old, in 2019.

Mr Justice Burns remanded the man in continuing custody and adjourned the sentence hearing to continue on February 26.

I know emotions can run high but this is not an excuse MR JUSTICE BURNS YESTERDAY