A MAN has gone on trial accused of multiple counts of sexually assaulting a girl when he was a teenager and she was aged between nine and 11.
The man appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to 12 separate counts of indecent assault of the girl.
The accused cannot be named for legal reasons, Judge Colin Daly told a jury sworn in to hear the case, which is likely to last for up to a week.
Judge Daly told the jury that anonymity was a “fundamental principle” of the justice system in respect of cases of a sexual nature in Ireland.
The judge said the case was of a “highly sensitive” nature and that “the law tries to protect the identity of all alleged injured parties, as well as all accused persons until a conviction might be obtained.
The judge told the jury: “I am warning you now, you must not disclose the identities of the alleged injured party or the accused, unless reporting restrictions are removed, if they are at all.”
Outlining the alleged facts, prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan said that the accused is 62 years of age and is alleged to have indecently assaulted the girl on dates between 1981 and 1983.
The man would have been 18 when he allegedly began the abuse on the girl.
“At the time, the alleged injured party was aged in the region of nine and 11 years of age,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
The accused stood in the dock of the courtroom as he was arraigned in front of the jury and replied “not guilty” to each of the 12 charges as they were put to him by the court registrar.
The trial is due to begin in earnest on Wednesday.