A retired Clare school teacher has pleaded not guilty to the alleged indecent assault of 11 females over a 21-year period.
At Ennis Circuit Court, the trial of the 80-year old man is to get underway and continue for two weeks or more after he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the 67 separate counts.
Before a packed courtroom that contained the extended jury panel yesterday, it took over 20 minutes for the Court Registrar to read out the 67 counts of indecent assault that are all alleged to have taken place at a Co Clare school on dates between 1964 and 1985.
The elderly man required the assistance of a hearing aid device to hear the charges and reply ‘not guilty’ each time.
In the case, the man pleaded not guilty to six counts of the indecent assault of one female on dates between 1975 and 1977; six counts of indecent assault against a second female on dates between 1976 and 1978; six counts of indecent assault against a third female between 1976 and 1978 and six counts against a fourth female on dates between 1975 and 1978.
The man also said 'not guilty' to nine counts of indecent assault against a fifth female at the school between 1971 and 1973; nine counts of indecent assault against a sixth female on dates between 1977 and 1979; nine counts of indecent assault against a seventh female on dates between 1978 and 1980 and seven counts of indecent assault against an eight female on dates between 1980 and 1981.
The accused also gave a not guilty plea to six counts of indecent assault of a ninth female on dates between 1964 and 1965; one count of indecent assault against a female between 1973 and 1975 and two counts of indecent assault against a female on dates between 1983 and 1985.
Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL told Judge Gerald Keyes that the State would be calling 22 witnesses in the case stating that the case will take two weeks and maybe spill into a third week.
Mr Coughlan said that the accused served as a teacher from 1964 before retiring in 1987.
Counsel for the accused, Roderick O’Hanlon SC read out a list of of the names of 12 defences witnesses to the jury panel that may be called by the defence during the case “and that is the best way I can put it”.
A jury was then impanelled in the case and the trial is to get underway at Ennis Circuit Court this morning.
