Man faces 183 counts of sexual assault

A DONEGAL man was charged with 183 counts of sexual assault on seven minors at Letterkenny District Court yesterday.

The 41-year-old married man, who cannot be named, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the male and female minors, who were aged between eight and 13.

The attacks are alleged to have happened over a 25-year period between 1984 and 2009. Some of the alleged victims were related while others were neighbours.

The man was arrested on Wednesday and brought to Milford Garda Station, where he made no reply to the charges after caution.

Inspector Kevin Gately did not object to bail but asked Judge Paul Kelly to impose conditions: for the man to surrender his passport; not to make contact with any of the injured parties or their families; to sign on at the garda station on Mondays and Fridays between 9am and 9pm; and to provide an independent surety to the court.

Solicitor for the accused Frank Dorrian sought legal aid for his client, whom he said qualified.