A Co Louth man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl and her nine-year-old brother. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard from the two children that they were sexually abused after the man came to repair their home in December 11th, 1996.
The jury returned a guilty verdict on two counts of sexual assault but failed to reach a decision on a third count of sexual assault on the girl, allegedly committed on the same day. Judge Frank O'Donnell rejected an application by Mr Gerard Clarke SC, defending, to release the man until sentencing. "It is my custom to place in custody anyone who puts victims through the trauma he has put them through," he said.
Judge O'Donnell adjourned the case to July 29th for mention of the sexual assault charge on which the jury disagreed and ordered the preparation of a victim impact report based on the other two charges.