Firefighter denies babysitter assaults

A retired firefighter denied getting a babysitter to perform oral sex on him and to digitally penetrating her vagina at when she was aged 11 to 16.

Michael O’Grady, aged 59, of Meadowbrook, Corbally, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to 10 counts of indecent assault.

The alleged victim told the opening day of the trial the assaults happened between Oct 1976 and Jan 1981 at addresses in Limerick and Shannon when she babysat for the accused and his wife. She recalled how she would kneel in front of the accused, while he ejaculated into her mouth at various times.

Mr O’Grady, in evidence yesterday, denied all the allegations of ongoing acts of oral sex and vaginal penetration. He also denied asking for sex when she was 16.

Mr O’Grady said the woman was “making up” the allegations.

He said he never had a video player when living in Shannon where the woman said she saw porn videos when assaulted.

He also denied telling the alleged victim’s brother that the allegations were true.

Geraldine O’Grady, wife of the accused, said she considered him the right person to have married.

Det Garda Michelle O’Halloran gave evidence of voluntary interviews Mr O’Grady gave in which he rejected the allegations, describing them in one interview as “rubbish and a load of crap”.

He said her family was still talking to him at the time and if he did what she had claimed, he would be dead, because if it was his child the person involved would be dead.

The jury will retire today to consider a verdict.