Man (81) admits indecent assault

AN 81-year-old man will be sentenced next month for the indecent assault of a 9 year old girl in 1986 in County Sligo.

The man, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault under the 1981 Rape Act at Sligo Circuit Court and will be sentenced on March 8th next.

He committed the offence between January 1st and March 31st, 1986. There are a further 84 alleged charges of either indecent or sexual assault against the man dating from January 1976 to December 1997, involving three female complainants in total. The man’s legal team, Mr Desmond Dockery, SC, instructed by Mr Keith O’Grady, BL, and Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor, had previously applied to the court for legal aid for the provision of a psychiatric report as it was the belief the man did not understand his options and it was thought there could be an issue regarding fitness to plead. It was outlined to a previous court they were satisfied the man understood matters when he pleaded guilty to count two on the indictment.

At last week’s court it was heard communication from a psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum suggested it was more appropriate the man be assessed by a local psychiatrist due to Covid-19. Legal aid was granted for this, providing a psychiatric report would be available for the prosecution before sentencing.

State prosecutor, Mr Leo Mulrooney asked the court to direct a Victim Impact Statement.