Passport refused to pensioner facing 80 sex abuse charges

A judge has refused to return a passport to a man who is facing 80 charges of sexually assaulting and defiling a young girl, after hearing details of his travel plans which included trips to Florida and Spain.

The 69-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Limerick District Court yesterday where he was served with a book of evidence. The offences are alleged to have occurred on dates between June 2009 and December 2011 in Limerick and Clare. The girl was aged 13 when the offences allegedly started.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly refused an application to amend the accused man’s bail conditions to allow for the return of his passport.

The State objected to the application because of the seriousness and multiplicity of the charges. Sgt Donal Cronin said the accused had addresses outside the jurisdiction and claimed if he was given travel documents he would be a high flight risk.

Defence solicitor Ted McCarthy said his client, who is on legal aid, had returned from Africa on a voluntary basis to meet the charges.

Judge O’Kelly returned the man for trial to the next sitting of Limerick Circuit Court on October 7th.