Pensioner admits historic sex assault on pair of siblings

A 78-YEAR-OLD man from County Cavan pleaded guilty to the historical sexual abuse of a brother and sister at the recent Cavan Circuit Court sessions.

The man cannot be identified so as to protect the identity of his victims.

The pensioner was originally charged with nine counts of indecent assault on the female child on dates between 1983 and 1985 and one offence on the same girl on a date between 1991 and 1992. He was further indicted on one charge of sexual assault on her brother at their family home on a date between 1983 and 1985.

When the 11 charges were formally put to him in front of a packed courtroom, he pleaded “not guilty” to each of the counts.

The court then moved to form a jury. Eight men and four women were sworn in for his trial, which was expected to last at least four days.

When the case came up for mention again last Wednesday, John Aylmer was told that the accused man had decided to plead guilty to two of the charges against him - namely sexually assaulting the female victim on a date in the 1990s and indecently assaulting her brother between 1983 and 1985.

When the state prosecutors broke the news to the now adult brother and sister who were in the circuit court for their abuser’s arraignment hearing, the woman broke down.

The defendant’s barrister said he wanted to “apologise in open court to the injured parties”.

Prosecution barrister, Monica Lawlor SC, said the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to nolle prosequi on the other nine charges against the elderly man.

Judge John Aylmer remanded the pensioner on bail on the same terms and conditions including that he have no contact whatsoever with either of his victims.

The man is to be returned for sentencing in the next term of Cavan Circuit Court beginning November 18. Judge Aylmer discharged the jury in the case.