A farmer in his 70s has pleaded guilty to the indecent assault of a male child in the late 1980s.
The man, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim, appeared before a sitting of Roscommon Circuit Court this month, where he entered guilty pleas to two of the charges against him.
Those pleas were entered on a full facts basis, with the remaining two counts on the indictment to be taken into consideration when sentencing. The charges all relate to dates unknown between October 1, 1985, and March 31, 1989, and referred to indecent assault by touching the boy’s penis.
A second accused man faced five identical charges on the same indictment, and entered guilty pleas to two of those charges in March of this year. Both men were to face a jury trial at that stage.
However, the jury was discharged after the first pleas of guilt were entered. The second man once again appeared on the trial list for the June sittings but entered the guilty pleas a couple of days before jury selection. Judge Kenneth Connolly remanded the man on continuing bail to November 3rd, when his co-accused will also appear.
“This is a matter that requires him to be on the Sex Offenders Register. That will happen as of today,” said Judge Connolly, before addressing the victim, who has been in court on both occasions.
“I imagine it’s an incredibly difficult process, but I hope today is some sort of line in your journey that, at least culpability and criminality has been accepted by both accused in full account with the version and history that you have given.
“I know there’s another outing for the sentence hearing and I’m sorry it’s slowly but at least it’s surely (ending).” Both accused will reappear in November for sentencing.
