Man, 34, charged with sexually assaulting 10-year-old daughter

A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting his own daughter when she was approximately ten years of age.

Detective Garda Brendan Murray arrested the defendant and charged him with carrying out one sexual assault on his daughter on an unspecified date in November 2023 and another sexual assault on the child on April 4, 2024.

When arrested, charged, and cautioned, the defendant made no reply to the charges.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial by indictment. 

The DPP also indicated that a plea of guilty could be signed in Cork District Court and the case sent forward for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Defence barrister Paula McCarthy applied to have a copy of the prosecution evidence sent to defence solicitor Eddie Burke.

Judge Mary Dorgan agreed to assign free legal aid in the case and adjourned the matter for a month.

Det Garda Murray said there was no State objection to the accused being remanded on bail on certain conditions agreed by the defence, subject to the approval of the court.

Those conditions require the 34-year-old to have no contact directly or indirectly with the child, provide his phone number so that he can be contactable at all times by the gardaí, and sign on four times a week at his local Garda station.

He is further required to have no intoxicants, not commit any offences, reside at the address supplied to gardaí, and notify them in advance of any intention to change address, not leave the country without making an application to the court and to stay away from the area where his daughter lives. 

Bail was on his own bond of €1,500 without requirement for a cash lodgement.