File on alleged sex assault by cllr sent to the DPP

By Tom Carron

A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office has confirmed that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to an allegation of sexual assault made against a leading Co Cavan councillor. However, the press officer couldn't confirm when a ruling was likely to be made on the complaint, pointing out that it was now in the hands of the DPP, the State's independent public prosecutor.

  The public representative, through his solicitor, has rejected the allegation made by a young employee of the Killarney hotel where the incident is alleged to have occurred.

  However, the man has resigned his party's whip pending completion of the investigation and without prejudice to his position. The public representative was attending a National Vocational Education Conference in the Malton Hotel (formerly the Killarney Great Southern) in the Kerry town when the incident is alleged to have occurred. It is understood that a 16-year-old worker at the hotel, believed to be a foreign national, made a complaint that the Cavan public representative invited him to his room where he sexually assaulted him.

  The youth alleges that he made a number of attempts to leave the room over a period of 15 minutes but was prevented from doing so by the politician.

  Subsequently, the junior employee complained to his supervisor and management at the hotel who contacted the gardai.

 The Cavan councillor  was arrested the following morning on foot of the complaint and brought to Killarney Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

  Solicitor for the politician concerned said that his client co-operated fully with gardai when questioned. He denied the allegation of sexual assault when interviewed by detectives and was maintaining his innocence.