Sex charge pensioner planning US holiday

A pensioner facing 80 charges of sexually assaulting and defiling a teenage girl and who is on free legal aid, yesterday asked a court to return his passport so he can go on holidays to Spain and Orlando, Florida.

The man, who will be 70 next month, was handed a book of evidence at Limerick District Court and on the application of the DPP was sent forward for trial to the October 7 sitting of Limerick Circuit Court.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at locations in Limerick and Clare, including Cratloe Woods, on dates between June 2009 and December 2011 and involved a girl then aged between 13 and 15.