Abuse suspect ‘took own life before trial’

DROVE INTO TREE RATHER THAN FACE CHARGES

A SUSPECTED paedophile took his life by driving into a tree hours before he was due to stand trial, gardai now believe.

The man, who was just about to turn 70, died early on Sunday morning after his vehicle ploughed into a tree in south Dublin.

Sources have confirmed that he had been charged with sexually abusing a number of boys in rural Co Wicklow in the 1980s — when he was in his 20s.

He was due to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday morning – where he was to face more than 100 charges of serious sexual assault and rape.

The man’s death now means the case against him cannot go ahead and his alleged victims will not get to see justice.

Sources say that as well as the complainants, gardaí are also aware of other victims who did not make statements against the man. If convicted, he was facing up to life in prison.

Sources say he is alleged to have brought young kids to rural Co Wicklow where he sexually assaulted them.

Gardaí from a protective services unit in Co Dublin had been investigating the man for several years and the Director of Public Prosecutions had ordered the man to be charged.

Witnesses

But he died in a single-vehicle incident at 6.15am on Sunday on Lower Churchtown Road in Churchtown near Dundrum.

The crash is being investigated, but sources say gardaí believe the man decided to take his own life rather than stand trial and face conviction and jail.

He was facing 113 counts of indecent assault, and of rape.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

A spokesman said: “Gardaí attended the scene of a fatal singlevehicle road traffic collision involving a van that occurred at approximately 6:15am on Sunday 7th April 2024 on the Churchtown Road Upper in Dundrum,

Dublin 14.

DUE TO HEAR CASE: Central Criminal Court

“The driver and sole occupant of the van, a man in his 60s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. “Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 6am and 6:30am are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dundrum Garda Station on 01 666 5600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.