Book of evidence served in Cork sexual assault case

A book of evidence was served yesterday on a 45-year-old man from West Cork, accused of sexually assaulting seven boys, in a case where it is alleged that he befriended families and brought young boys swimming, on cinema visits, and to fast-food restaurants.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis confirmed that a book of evidence was served on solicitor Frank Buttimer on behalf of the accused man who appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison. The defendant cannot be named for legal reasons.

Judge Liz Healy sent the case forward for trial by jury at the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court, commencing on February 9.

Detective Garda Paul Cogan recently outlined the background allegations that the boys were aged between seven and 12 when they were allegedly sexually assaulted on Saturday afternoon visits to a busy fast-food restaurant in Cork city on occasions in August and September 2023.

The accused is charged with a total of eight counts of sexual assault in respect of seven boys.

Det Gda Cogan testified that gardaí were alerted by a woman who works professionally 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 kind of physical interaction that he was having with the children.

The detective said this woman was present at the premises on September 23, 2023, and, on the basis of what she saw in terms of the interactions between the man and the children, she contacted gardaí to express her concerns.

Concerned

The woman was especially concerned by the level of physical contact by this man with the young boys. One boy in particular was allegedly subjected to continuous physical contact for a period of 24 minutes, Det Gda Cogan testified.

Following the complaint, the footage from the restaurant was downloaded.

Gardaí set about identifying the children, and they were able to establish their identities and make contact with their parents.

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 provision 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,” Det Garda Cogan said.

Journey

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,” Det Gda Cogan alleged.

“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 accused’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 against him relate to alleged sexual assaults at the fast-food premises.