A 62-year-old man was arrested today and charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in a hospital ward.

It was alleged that the 62-year-old man and the teenager were sharing a hospital ward at Cork University Hospital at the time of the alleged sexual assault, Detective Garda Caroline Keogh said yesterday.

The detective said that when she cautioned the accused man that he did not have to say anything but that whatever he might say could be given in evidence, he replied, “I did nothing to that girl. I just shook her hand.”

Detective Garda Keogh said the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the accused could have the case against him dealt with summarily at Cork District Court on a plea of guilty only.

It was then a matter for Judge Olann Kelleher to get a summary of the alleged facts in the case to see if he would also accept jurisdiction to deal with the case at district court level.

Detective Garda Keogh outlined the allegations in the case where the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted the teenager.

It was alleged that at approximately 5am on May 14, 2018, at a ward in Cork University Hospital which both parties were sharing, the defendant allegedly approached her bed where she was sleeping and touched her breasts and vagina and she woke up during this disputed incident.

Judge Kelleher said he would accept jurisdiction for the case.

Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, asked for a copy of the prosecution statements so that a decision could be made on whether a plea of guilty or not guilty would be entered in the case.

The case was adjourned for four weeks with the accused on bail.

He is required to sign on once a week at his local garda station in County Cork.

If the accused man pleads guilty on the next occasion, sentencing may have to be adjourned for a victim impact statement.

If the accused pleads not guilty then a book of evidence will have to prepared before the case is sent forward for trial by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.