Ex-mayor of Cork faces sex charges

Former lord mayor of Cork John Murray — now aged 83 — has gone on trial on six counts of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the 1990s.

Mr Murray, of 17 Gregg Rd, Cork, a former Labour Party official and retired member of Cork City Council, pleaded not guilty to six charges of sexually assaulting the girl on occasions between 1996 and 1998.

The complainant said the first sexual assault occurred in 1996, and that two years ago — in the presence of her parents and others — she confronted Mr Murray about her allegations that he had sexually assaulted her.