RTÉ asked to explain what extra evidence it has on creche owner

RTÉ has been asked to explain what additional evidence it has on a creche owner facing trial for breaking child laws following an undercover exposé.

The Links Creche and Montessori Ltd, at Abington Wood, Malahide, Co Dublin, and its director, Deirdre Kelly of Kinsealy, are accused of breaking the Childcare Act and pre-school services regulations.

A plea has not yet been entered. The prosecution brought by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is as a result of Breach of Trust, a TV documentary by RTÉ’s investigations unit which aired last year.

The producers provided Tusla with 40 hours of secretly-filmed footage which is to form a major part of the prosecution’s case. That has been handed over to the defence who have also demanded another 160 hours of footage allegedly held by a prosecution “star witness”.

During a pre-trial hearing, prosecution solicitor David McCoy told Judge John O’Neill at Dublin District Court that he has been in correspondence with RTÉ to clarify issues.

Defence counsel Cara Jane Walsh said she needed to know the prosecution’s position in relation to disclosure of other evidence.

She had also said earlier that a “star witness” had reported to Paul Maguire, head of RTÉ’s investigations unit, and the defence wanted that documentation as well as Garda statements to be made available.

Mr McCoy said “RTÉ have to give their definitive position” and need to respond to correspondence.

He also said that out the 40 hours of footage there are “really only 15 to 20 minutes that are relevant to the prosecution.”

Judge O’Neill adjourned the case for six weeks.