Childhood ‘lost’ after sex assault

A 22-year-old man who claims he was sexually assaulted by a male family friend over a few years when he was a young boy has sued in the High Court.

The man told Mr Justice Anthony Barr he was aged between seven and nine at the time of the alleged abuse when he was brought along on business delivery runs while he was on holiday in the man’s house in the South-East.

The man’s mother told the court her son’s childhood had been taken from him and he missed a lot of school afterwards.

Opening the case, Aidan Doyle SC, told the court it was a case for damages for sexual assault alleged to have occurred between May 2002 and January 2004. It is alleged the family friend touched the boy on the legs and then the genitals as he brought him on trips in his car and that it only came to light when the boy aged about nine told a woman who was friendly with his family.

The male family friend has denied the claims and contends in a counter claim that the young man had been told to tell lies by his mother. He also claims that the allegations only came to light after he himself won damages as a result of injuries received in a traffic accident.

In evidence the 22-year old man told the court he was also sexually assaulted in the sitting room of the man’s house when his granny who also lived there was gone to bed.

He said the man stopped when he was around nine.

The case continues.