A FORMER Franciscan brother, now living in the midlands with a wife and family, was yesterday charged with more than 119 sex offences involving children in a small Co Galway school where he was a teacher between 1967 and 1979.
The man, now 55, appeared in Tuam Court yesterday in a hearing that lasted seven minutes.
He appeared at Longford Court earlier this week on 36 charges of sex offences against children. A further 89 charges were laid against him when he appeared in Tuam Court. He was not legally represented.
The charges name 11 boys and two girls. The man is alleged to have indecently assaulted the 13 children. The charges also allege buggery of two of the boys.
The defendant was arrested at his home early on Tuesday morning.
Giving evidence in Tuam Court yesterday, Det Garda Jason said he had arrested and charged the defendant with the additional offences. The man had denied the charges, saying that in a number of the cases he could not remember the boys being referred to.
Garda Mary Burke, giving evidence in relation to the alleged offences involving the girls, said the defendant had replied in relation to one case. "The only memory I have is of giving her a slap on the ear and I regret that."
Garda Burke said when the defendant was charged with in decently assaulting the second girl, he replied. "I remember her she was an excellent singer."
Asked by Judge John Garavan if he had any questions for the Garda witnesses, the man said he was satisfied his replies had been accurately recorded.
Supt Bill Fennell applied to have the defendant remanded on continuing bail to Tuam Court on December 8th. Bail of £1,000 and an independent surety of £5,000 were set at Longford Court on Tuesday. The defendant agreed to the remand.