Clare teacher returned for trial on 14 sexual offences

A CO Clare teacher charged with 14 sexual offences against a teenage girl was yesterday returned for trial.

The charges state that 13 of the alleged offences occurred at a Co Clare school over eight weeks between September and November of last year.

The 60-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces 10 counts of the sexual exploitation and four of defilement of the girl.

Seven of the sexual exploitation offences are alleged to have taken place at a school in September and October last year when the girl was 15. The remaining three took place in November last after she had turned 16, the charges state.

Insp Tom Kennedy of Shannon Garda station told a sitting of Shannon District Court in Ennis yesterday that the book of evidence had been served on the man and he could now be sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Court.

Judge Joseph Mangan then informed the accused that if an alibi formed part of his defence he had 14 days to inform the prosecution.

Solicitor for the accused, Gearoid Howard, told the court he would be seeking legal aid for a junior counsel to represent the man in the Circuit Court. Judge Mangan said legal aid had not yet been granted, and Mr Howard said he would make the application in the Circuit Court.

Insp Kennedy said the accused was on bail and the bail conditions were he provide his own surety of €5,000 and surrender his passport.

The bail conditions also stated that he sign on each Wednesday at a Garda station, that he stay at the address on his charge sheet, and that he have no contact with the alleged injured party or any witnesses in the case.

Judge Mangan returned the accused to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Court.