A former sports coach is on trial in Ireland accused of sexually abusing four girls decades ago, with the alleged offences dating to the 1970s and 1980s. The defendant, who is not identified due to legal reasons, is in his late 70s and faces dozens of charges. The prosecution alleges he exploited his position of authority and abused girls who were, at times, entrusted to his care. Court heard that the charges include multiple counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape, with the number of charges reported across outlets varying as the case is described: some sources cite around 78 indecent assaults plus an attempted rape, while others refer to 74 or 40 indecent assaults plus attempted rape, reflecting differences in how the counts are presented.
The Irish Times reports that he has pleaded guilty to five indecent-assault charges but denies the remaining charges, including a further 73 indecent assaults and an attempted rape count. TheJournal.ie reports jury deliberations after the trial began, following presentation of evidence about allegations at multiple locations within the state. The trial concerns events involving four complainants.
