Doctor denies sexually assaulting 13-year-old patient

A North Cork doctor has denied he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old patient by fondling her breasts for several minutes when she attended his surgery with a chest cold.

Kevin Mulcahy, aged 56, of Cregane, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday on a single count of indecently assaulting the girl at his surgery on Strand St, Kanturk, Co Cork, on a date between September 1, 1989 and June 22, 1990.

The accused replied, “not guilty” to the charge.

The complainant, who was 13 at the time and is 38 now, was the first witness to give evidence. “I went to the doctor with a cough and a cold,” she said. “My own GP was not available. My mother took me to Dr Mulcahy. It was my first time being there.

“He examined me and he suggested I come back in two days and I would be OK without a prescription.”

She said that when she returned to the surgery, where there was no receptionist and no one present except Dr Mulcahy, who brought her into the surgery.

“He closed the door,” she said. “He asked me to take off my top and my bra. He sat behind me. He rubbed my back. He put his hands under my arms and on my breasts. He fondled and massaged my breasts for what seemed like five or 10 minutes.

“His breathing got heavier and deeper. That is all I could hear. He stopped then and said: ‘It is OK, you can get dressed now.’ ”

A memo of an interview with the accused by Det Garda Colman Murphy was read by prosecution barrister Siobhán Lankford, in which it was put to him that he closed and possibly locked the surgery door and fondled her breasts and became sexually aroused on the occasion. During the interview, he said: “I have no recollection whatever of her… I have no recollection whatever of that person… I have no idea in the wide earthly world who this person is.”

He said he ceased practising as a doctor for 15 months prior to 2011 as he had become suicidal and admitted himself to a medical unit for six weeks.

Asked by Det Garda Murphy if he believed the complainant was telling the truth, he replied: “I find I cannot say yes or no if I don’t know who the person is.”

The case continues.