Man pleads guilty to sexual assault by ‘touching in chest area’

A MAN, who initially denied three charges of sexual assault against one woman, has pleaded guilty to one of the lesser offences.

Martin Mannering’s victim was in Cavan Circuit Court on November 27 to hear her abuser admit he sexually assaulted her in 2022.

The woman told state prosecutors she wanted to preserve her anonymity but would waive the anonymity of the accused “in a way that does not identify her”.

A jury had been sworn in for the trial of Mannering with an address at Laragh Crescent, Cavan Town, after he pleaded “not guilty” to the three charges against him.

Mannering appeared at Cavan Circuit Court to be arraigned on indictment on the three charges on Wednesday, November 26.

The charges against him include that he sexually assaulted the woman contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 on New Year’s Eve 2022 at a residence in Cavan.

He was further charged with sexually assaulting the same woman on the same night “in circumstances involving touching her vagina outside her clothes”.

A third count of sexual assault involved Mannering touching the woman on the same night and location in question “on the chest area”.

When he was arraigned and each of the charges of the indictment put to him, Martin Mannering was asked how he wanted to plead. The 60-year-old answered “not guilty” to each of the offences.

A jury was subsequently empanelled and the trial adjourned until the following day.

As the trial was set to resume on Thursday, Frank Martin, prosecution barrister for the state told Judge John Aylmer “there has been a development” and said Mannering was to be re-arraigned on count three of the indictment.

Mr Martin said the DPP would enter a nolle prosequi (do not prosecute) on the two other charges against Mannering on a guilty plea to the third charge of sexual assault.

Once again, the charge of sexually assaulting the woman at a residence on New Year’s Eve 2022 by “touching her in the breast area” was put to Martin Mannering and this time when he was asked how he wished to plead he replied: “Guilty.”

His female victim was in Cavan Courthouse to hear Mannering’s plea.

Frank Martin BL approached the woman, who was accompanied in court by a man, to ask her if she wanted to keep her identity and that of her abuser private.

The woman, who was visibly shaken, said she wanted to preserve her anonymity, but she waived the anonymity of Martin Mannering if it could be done in such a way as not to identify her.

Defence barrister Breifne Gordon said his client was in poor health suffering from cardiac and circulation problems among other health concerns and asked that a report from his GP be sought before he is sentenced.

Mr Gordon also asked that his client’s bail conditions be amended so that he does not have to sign on twice a week at a garda station.

Judge Aylmer agreed to change the terms of Mannering’s bail so that he now only has to sign on every Monday. Other conditions of his bail include adhering to a curfew between the hours of 10pm and 7am every day, staying away from alcohol and drugs and having no contact whatsoever with his victim.

The judge said word should be sent to the jury advising them that their services would no longer be required and excused them from jury duty for the next three years.

He then remanded Martin Mannering on continuing bail with the amended terms and conditions until the sittings of Cavan Circuit Court when he will return to be sentenced.