Sex abuse accused ‘used as a scapegoat’

The lawyer for a former Christian Brother on trial for indecently assaulting four schoolboys claimed the accused was being used as a scapegoat for the complainants’ problems.

The senior counsel dismissed as absurd the allegations against the former Brother, and said the description of the accused arriving on a basketball court when a boy was playing alone was like something out of Star Trek.

Blaise O’Carroll, defending, repeatedly described as absurd the allegations made against Edward Bryan, aged 59, of Martinvilla, Athboy Rd, Trim, Co Meath.