A 62-year-old former teacher appeared in court yesterday charged with 104 counts of indecent assault at a school in south Dublin more than 30 years ago. A judge ordered that nothing should be published which would identify the accused or the injured parties.
The former cleric is charged with committing the offences against boys over a two-year period in the early 1970s. Dublin District Court heard he was arrested yesterday morning at Sundrive Road Garda station, Crumlin, Dublin.
After he was charged, he replied "not guilty".
Det Garda Eamonn Maloney had no objection to independent bail, subject to certain conditions, including that he surrender his passport and sign on at his local Garda station.
His solicitor asked the court to set a sum for bail which "is attainable". The charges were of "considerable antiquity" and his client had made himself available at all times to gardaí during the investigation into the matter, which had gone on over a number of years.
He had no previous convictions. "If he wanted to flee the jurisdiction, he would have had ample opportunity," the solicitor added.
Judge John O'Neill set the accused's own bail at €2,500, with an independent surety for the same sum. He must surrender his passport, sign on daily at a north Dublin Garda station, reside at the address on the charge sheets, and notify gardaí of any change of address.
He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again on January 26th.