A MAN in his 70s described as a ‘person in authority’ has appeared in court charged with the sexual intercourse with a 17 year old female child on two separate dates almost three years ago.
At Kilrush District Court, the Book of Evidence was served in the case where the 73 year old west Clare man is facing two separate sex offence charges.
The charges describe the accused as ‘a person in authority’ where on a date unknown between October 1st 2023 and November 28th 2023 at his home in west Clare did engage in sexual intercourse with a child who was 17 and under the age of 18 contrary to Section 3A(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 as inserted by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
The man is facing the same charge on November 28th 20923 of being a person in authority of having sexual intercourse with the same 17 year old female child at his home contrary to the same Section of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006.
The accused was aged 70 at the time of the alleged offences.
Garda Emmet Roche of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the Book of Evidence in the case and Sgt John Burke said that the case will be going forward on indictment to Ennis Circuit Court.
Judge Adrian Harris gave the accused the alibi warning where if an alibi formed any part of his defence that the accused man’s solicitor, Patrick Moylan has 14 days in which to inform the State.
Judge Harris told the man that if he has any questions over the alibi warning his solicitor, Mr Moylan will explain.
Judge Harris granted legal aid to Mr Moylan to represent the accused in the case and also extended the legal aid certificate for a junior counsel to represent the accused in the circuit court.
Judge Harris sent the man forward on continuing conditional bail to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.
