EX-COACH’S TEARS OVER 394 CHILD SEX CHARGES
Man facing extradition for alleged rape and assault breaks down in court
A FORMER GAA coach accused of child sex abuse broke down in tears as he faced extradition in a US court.
The man, who left Ireland in 2013, faces 394 charges – including 177 counts of rape, 201 counts of sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and harassment.
He sobbed throughout a hearing at US District Court in New York on Friday where the case was put back for a week.
A FORMER GAA coach arrested in New York on almost 400 child abuse charges is accused of grooming one of his victims by taking him on trips.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is wanted by gardai in connection with a probe into crimes committed in the Midlands between 2004 and 2009.
Court documents seen by the Irish Sunday Mirror state he is accused of abusing one male victim between the age of 11 and 16 and a second from the age of 13 onwards.
Homeland Security officials arrested the Irishman in New York last week and an extradition hearing on Friday heard he was accused of “protracted sexual abuse”.
He “coached and groomed” his victims, the court document said, describing the abuse as “relentless”.
One victim told gardai the assaults occurred “multiple times” a week at a sports ground where the alleged abuser coached underage teams, in the man’s home and in hotel rooms.
The document stated he gave one victim “a job, gifts, money and trips away from a difficult life” but this “evolved into a pattern of isolation, sexual assault and physical abuse”.
The two victims came forward in 2012 and 2013 at which time the man went to the UK.
He later moved to the US where a close associate lives. It is understood he was traced and gardai requested the assistance of the FBI last September.
Authorities used utility bills and postal records to track the former coach to his new address. He was found living in an apartment in a small town in upstate New York and all utility services were registered in his name.
At an extradition hearing on Friday it was determined after a discussion behind closed doors the case would be postponed to Friday.
Throughout the one-hour court appearance the man could be seen crying into his hands, reports said.
He was remanded into the custody of the US Marshals Service after the defendant’s request for a postponement was granted. Authorities here are seeking extradition so he can stand trial on 394 criminal counts arising from the alleged sexual abuse of two minors.
[He gave boy] gifts, money and trips away from his difficult life
COURT DOCUMENT SEEN BY IRISH SUNDAY MIRROR