Kildare man charged with historic sexual assault of child

An ELDERLY Kildare man charged with three counts of the indecent assault of a child over 30 years ago will return to court in November because he was unrepresented due to the ongoing strike by solicitors.

The man is charged with three counts of breaching Section 2 Criminal Law (Rape) Act , two in south Kildare, and once on The Curragh.

The elderly man stood silently in an empty courthouse in Naas last week week (2 July) as Sergeant Mary Meade for the sState told Judge Desmond Zaidan that “we have DPP directions” indicating trial by indictment in a higher court.

‘Family Friend’

She explained that it is alleged on two dates between 1 January 1994 and 31 December, 1995 “he sexually assaulted the injured party – then a 15-year-old boy – by touching his genitals inside and outside his clothing”.

“On another date (in that period) touched the injured party’s genitals under clothing in a car.”

“They were known to each other, he was a family friend giving driving lessons to him,” said Sgt Meade.

After Judge Zaidan let it be known he was looking to put it back to allow the defendant organize his defence properly, Sgt Meade acknowledged that gardaí “had no objection to bail”.

The judge then remanded him on continuing bail to return on 26 November for a book of evidence.