An acupuncturist accused of sexually assaulting a woman patient has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he only touched her breasts to "keep her happy" and satisfy her in a medical sense. He denied that he had sexually assaulted her in his clinic on January 9th, 1997.
The 48-year-old naturalised Irish citizen, who is a qualified medical doctor, told prosecuting counsel Ms Mary Ellen Ring during cross-examination that the allegations were "just not true". He apologised several times to her and to the jury for his misunderstanding of the English language, which he said was not of the "Oxford standard".
He said he had been practising medicine in Ireland for 20 years.
He admitted having asked the woman about her past and said he expressed sympathy to her when she told him she had been sexually abused as a child.
He said he did not take her hand to express his sympathy, as she had alleged.
When Ms Ring asked if the complainant had been lying about this, he said: "Why would I say she is lying? She is a patient and a lady. I won't say she is lying."
He said he had left the room when she was taking off her tights and exposing her abdomen for his examination.
He denied he massaged her breasts and touched her vagina, and told the court: "My God has given me a beautiful wife. She is here with me, and I don't need to do that kind of thing."
In reply to Ms Ring's question as to whether there were guidelines available to medical practitioners concerning the treatment of female patients, he said he was not aware there were any guidelines especially for females. He said "a patient is a patient" and everyone got the same respect.
The case is continuing before Judge Patrick McCartan.