From the Galway City Tribune – A 52-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting an underage girl by grabbing her buttocks with both hands at an amusement park in Salthill.

Judge Mary Fahy imposed reporting restrictions at Galway District Court last week to protect the identity of the complainant for the present.

The man was charged with sexually assaulting the girl at Curry’s Fun Park, Salthill, on July 14 last year, contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

Sergeant Christy Browne said the DPP had directed the charge could be dealt with at District Court level on a guilty plea only.

Judge Fahy asked for an outline of the prosecution case to decide on whether or not to accept jurisdiction to deal with the case in her court.

Sgt Browne said it would be alleged the accused man put both hands on the young girl’s bottom and squeezed both cheeks.

Judge Fahy accepted jurisdiction, noting that if the accused pleaded not guilty then a book of evidence would be prepared and he would be sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court for trial.

She made an order directing Gardaí to send prosecution statements and CCTV to defence solicitor, Olivia Traynor before remanding the man on continuing bail to the New Year to indicate his attitude to the charge then.
This article first appeared in the print edition of the Galway City Tribune, November 4. You can support our journalism by subscribing to the Galway City Tribune HERE. The print edition is in shops every Friday.