This article is from page 33 of the 2014-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
A CLARE man has appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a girl in the county just over a year ago.
The alleged offences are alleged to have occurred at a named address in South Clare.
The 39-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with five counts of sexual assault of the female on dates unknown between December 1, 2012 and January 2, 2013.
The alleged offences are contrary to section two of the criminal law rape amendment act as amended by section 37 of the sex offender’s act 2001. A schedule of the evidence of arrest, charge and caution of the accused was handed into court by Insp Tom Kennedy.
Defence solicitor Oonagh Moylan made an application for legal aid. However she said this was not a normal application.
She said her client is a factory worker but has debts of € 17,000.
Ms Moylan said the case could require the services of both junior counsel and senior counsel.
She said the legal aid application was an appropriate one given the serious nature of the charges her client is facing. She said her client had filled out a statement of means.
Inspector Tom Kennedy said the State had no objection to legal aid.
He said the case would proceed on a book of evidence to a higher court and that senior counsel may ultimately be engaged.
Judge Durcan granted legal aid.
He also imposed reporting restrictions. Judge Durcan ordered that the name of the accused, the alleged victim and the location of the alleged offences not be published.
He said the media could say the accused is from Clare and could also refer to the general geographical area where the offences are alleged to have occurred. THE case of three people charged following an altercation outside a pub in the Parnell Street area of Ennis last year is due to be heard on October. Solicitors for Kevin Cooper (52), Terry Sherlock (26) and Martin Sherlock (27) told Ennis District Court on Wednesday that a date for hearing would be required. The case, which involves allegations of assault and public order offences, is expected to take three hours to hear. Mr Cooper, with an address at Drumcairnmore, Loughville, Ennis is facing a charge of assault causing harm arising out of an alleged incident near Barcode Bar on March 31, 2013. Martin Sherlock, with an address at Clancy Park, Ennis, is charged with assaulting Mr Cooper arising out of the same circumstances. It is also alleged Martin Sherlock engaged in threatening, abusive and or insulting behaviour at Parnell Street on March 31. Another man Terry Sherlock with an address at Westbourne Watery Road, Ennis is charged with assaulting Mr Cooper at Parnell Street, Ennis on March 31. On Wednesday, solicitor for Mr Cooper, Stephen Nicholas told the court the case involves lengthy CCTV footage. Inspector Tom Kennedy said seven witnesses may be called to give evidence. The court heard the case could take three hours to hear. Judge Patrick Durcan set October 28 as the date for hearing.