Relative of abuse victim has to be restrained in court

A MAN had to be restrained during the hearing of a case against a well-known writer, who has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy, at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee yesterday.

The man, sitting with the boy’s relatives, made an outburst after Judge Carroll Moran indicated he would further adjourn the case against Desmond Hogan to allow for assessment of the accused at the Granada Institute.

Hogan, 57, with an address at Back Lane, East End, Ballybunion, Co Kerry, has admitted to the aggravated sexual assault of a boy under the age of 17 on November 11, 2006, at Back Lane.