A former priest in the Diocese of Ferns, James Doyle, appeared at Wexford District Court yesterday charged with 35 counts of indecent assault.
Fr Doyle (56), with addresses in Clonard, Wexford and in Dublin, stood in the gallery as Det Garda John Sheehy of Wexford Garda station gave evidence of arrest and caution.
The garda recalled arresting the accused at 2.15pm on August 14th, 2006. He said Fr Doyle was conveyed to Wexford Garda station where 35 charges of indecent assault were read to him.
He recalled that Fr Doyle answered "no comment" after each of the charges was read.
The former priest, who held the post of curate at Clonard Church from 1979 to 1990, faces two charges of indecent assault on a person at Forth Mountain in Wexford between April 1981 and July 1986.
A further 16 charges of indecent assault - relating to the same person - are alleged to have occurred at a residential address in the town between July 1981 and April 1986.
Sixteen other counts - again relating to the same person - are alleged to have occurred at Clonard Church between April 1981 and April 1986.
Fr Doyle faces a 35th charge of indecent assault - relating to a second person - on a date unknown between September 1st 1981 and September 9th, 1982 at Clonard Church. All 35 charges are being preferred under section 62 of the Offences against the Person Act.
Det Garda Sheehy said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the matter being sent forward for trial before the next sitting of the Circuit Court in Wexford.
He added that a book of evidence had been served on the accused earlier in the day.
Noting that Fr Doyle was at liberty on station bail, Judge Donnchadh Ó Buachalla ordered that a fresh bail sheet be prepared in the sum of €200 in the defendant's own bond.
Solicitor for the accused, Kieran Conway, applied for legal aid on his client's behalf.
He described Fr Doyle as unemployed adding that he relies on payments from the Social Welfare.
He said also that his client helps out in a voluntary capacity at a centre for recovering addicts.
Mr Conway said he was seeking legal aid for two members of counsel as the charges were significant in nature.
He added that difficulties were to be expected in terms of the delay in bringing the matters before the court.
Judge Ó Buachalla granted the application before ordering that a fresh bail sheet be prepared.
The next criminal sittings at Wexford Circuit Court will begin on October 3rd.