Man (22) charged with sexual assault of girl (13) in west Clare

Gordon Deegan

A 22-year-old west Clare man has appeared in court in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a then 13-year-old girl at Vandeleur Woods on the outskirts of Kilrush town two years ago.

At Kilrush District Court, the accused appeared after being charged before court with two counts of sexual assault and a count of sexual exploitation against the girl in May-June 2023.

Sgt John Burke told the court that the case is to go forward to the circuit court and a Book of Evidence will be required in the case.

After Sgt Burke told Judge Alec Gabbett the age of the alleged injured party in the case is 13 years of age, Judge Gabbett commented ‘very young’.

In the case, the accused is charged with two counts of sexual assault of the girl at at Vandeleur Woods, Feagarroge, Kilrush on June 7th and June 8th 2023.

The charges are contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act.

On conviction in the circuit court, persons face prison terms up to five years.

The accused is also charged on date unknown between May 19th 2023 June 22nd 2023 at a location unknown within the state did use a child namely for sexual exploitation contrary to section 2 of the Child Trafficking Act and Pornography act 1998.

In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Det Garda Conor Flaherty of the Protective Services Bureau of the Clare-Tipperary Garda Division gave evidence of arresting the accused on Tuesday morning and conveying him to Kilrush Garda Station for charge.

Det Garda Flaherty said that the accused made no reply to charge after caution.

Solicitor, Patrick Moylan was granted legal aid to represent the accused after telling the court that his client “is a suitable candidate”.

Det Flaherty stated that there was no Garda objection to bail and the case could be adjourned for the drawing up of a Book of Evidence

Judge Gabbett said that the accused could be bailed on his own bond of €100 and attached bail conditions and remanded the accused on bail to re-appear before Kilrush District Court on October 21st for the serving of the Book of Evidence.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.