Man (57) is charged with 54 counts of sexual assault

A 57 year old man has been charged with 54 counts of sexual assault.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons was charged before Sligo District Court on Thursday last.

Garda Sandra Deery served the man with the Book of Evidence outlining the alleged charges spanning 13 years across a number of locations in County Sligo.

It is alleged that on dates unknown between September 1999 and March 2012 the man sexually assaulted a female at three locations across County Sligo.

Garda Deery told the court that when the charges were put to him the man replied, “The year is definitely wrong guard, nothing happened before 2003’ and ‘ Those dates are wrong’. and made no other reply to the following 52 charges.

After service of the Book of Evidence, Judge Kevin Kilrane sent the man forward for trial on the charges to the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Criminal Court on July 14 th next.

He was ordered to surrender his travel documents to the court and as part of his bail conditions he was instructed to have no contact with the complainant or any state witnesses.

Legal aid was granted to Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor, plus a junior and senior counsel giventhe seriousness of the charges.

Meanwhile, a 38 year old man who stole medical products from Sligo University Hospital has been convicted and fined.

Lee Young of Garavogue Villas pleaded guilty to taking medical products to the value of €25 from the hospital on August 20 th last.

Solicitor, Mr Gerard McGovern told the court he stole the items for his drug dependency as he had a ‘severe addiction’. Young had €25 in court which was donated to North West Hospice and he was fined €100.