AN UNEMPLOYED man gave two false statements to gardaí claiming he was sexually assaulted by X Factor judge Louis Walsh in a Dublin nightclub, a court heard yesterday.
Father-of-two Leonard Watters (24), from Navan, Co Meath, was arrested in June after allegedly making an unfounded claim to gardaí that Mr Walsh groped him in the toilets of the Krystle nightclub earlier this year.
He had been charged on June 29th at Dublin District Court under section 12 of the Criminal Law Act 1976 for making a false report to gardaí at Harcourt Terrace Garda station on June 20th last. Mr Watters had then been remanded on bail.
He made his second court appearance yesterday, where Det Insp Michael Cryan told Judge Cormac Dunne that an additional charge has been brought. Mr Watters “had nothing to say” in reply to caution yesterday morning.
The new charge alleges he made a second false report to gardaí at his home on June 28th.
Solicitor for the State Ciara McCann told the judge the DPP had directed “summary disposal on a guilty plea”, meaning the case should be dealt with at District Court level if Mr Watters admitted the offence.
Det Insp Cryan said it was alleged Mr Watters made two statements to An Garda Síochána that he was sexually assaulted by Mr Walsh in a Dublin nightclub. He added the claims were false.
Legal aid was granted to Mr Watters and he was remanded on bail to appear again on November 2nd when he is to indicate his pleas to the charges.