West Cork man charged with sexually assaulting seven boys

Families were groomed to trust a 45-year-old man from West Cork to bring their young sons swimming, on cinema visits, and to fast-food restaurants, it was claimed by a detective yesterday, as the man was charged with sexually assaulting seven boys.

Detective Garda Paul Cogan said the boys were aged between seven and 12 when they were allegedly sexually assaulted on Saturday afternoon visits to a fast-food restaurant in Cork city on occasions in August and September 2023. The accused was charged with eight counts of sexual assault in respect of seven boys.

Judge Catherine Ryan said there was a presumption in favour of bail unless its refusal was necessary for the prevention of serious crime.

“The charges are serious, and carry a very heavy penalty if proven,” she said. “I am also taking into consideration the strength of evidence. I believe the objections to bail are well-founded — I am refusing bail.”

The accused, who was represented by Frank Buttimer, was remanded in custody until February 3. Sergeant John Dineen said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial by indictment. Mr Buttimer said there would not be a signed plea of guilty to charges, and that a book of evidence would be required.

Det Gda Cogan testified that gardaí were alerted by a woman who works in this area when she became suspicious of a man in his 40s who was in the company of five boys at the fast-food premises and the physical interaction he was having with the children.

The detective said this woman was present at the premises on September 23, 2023, and contacted gardaí to express her concerns.

The woman was especially concerned by the level of physical contact with the boys, one of whom was allegedly subjected to continuous physical contact for a period of 24 minutes, Det Gda Cogan testified.

Following the complaint, footage from the restaurant was downloaded and gardaí set about identifying the children to make contact with their parents.

TOOK TO RESTAURANT

The parents alleged that the defendant met them around the city and engaged them in friendly conversation, played with a number of children who were present, and eventually took them all to the restaurant for food. These encounters continued to take place over a number of weeks.

“One of the mothers alleged that she only met [the accused] on one occasion before he turned up at her door one Saturday and offered to buy football boots for her young boys,” Det Gda Cogan said. “She recalls being baffled as to how he had found her house. She allowed her young boys to go to the sports shop with him on the proviso that her 17-year-old would also go. On this occasion, he bought them football boots, a football each, and food in the fast-food premises.”

Gardaí established that on a weekly basis, the accused was making a lengthy journey to Cork city every Saturday to meet these boys, it was alleged.

“Significantly, most of the families also had young girls, and the mothers stated that [the accused] never showed any interest in interacting with them. In fact, one mother stated that on one occasion when boys and girls were brought to the restaurant, food was only bought for the boys,” the detective alleged.

“A number of days before [the defendant’s] home was searched as part of this investigation, he was observed near the playground in Fitzgerald’s Park, Cork city, by two gardaí from the divisional protective services unit. They approached him and enquired as to why he was in the area of the playground.

“Following the conversation, he left the park. Four days later, gardaí executed a search warrant at his home address and a number of electronic devices were seized.

“Forensic analysis of the devices showed that they had been factory reset the day he had met gardaí in Fitzgerald’s Park. Gardaí believe that he was spooked by his interaction with the two gardaí.”

While reference was made in the objection to bail to alleged visits by the accused with boys to swimming pools and the cinema, all eight charges related to alleged sexual assaults at the restaurant.