Civil servant to face trial over alleged sex abuse of girl

A civil servant is to face trial accused of sexual abuse of a girl in Dublin over a 10-year period.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge James Faughnan at Dublin District Court yesterday after he was charged with 26 offences.

The government department official, who is in his 40s, is accused of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault, which is alleged to have happened at a number of locations in Dublin from 1988 until 1998.

Garda Paul Hughes told Judge Faughnan that the defendant made no comment when the charges were put to him. Gda Hughes, of Mountjoy Station, also said the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to the man being tried on indictment in the Central Criminal Court.

There was also consent to him being sent forward for trial on a signed plea should that arise. The garda asked for an eight-week adjournment to allow time to complete the book of evidence.

There was no objection to bail subject to conditions that the defendant, who did not address the court, stays away from the complainant and has no contact with her directly or indirectly through a third party. He also has to sign on twice a week at his local garda station in west Dublin.

Gda Hughes objected to free legal aid saying the accused was “a man of some means”. However, the defence submitted that he earned €550 a week, had a house in negative equity and mortgage arrears.

Judge Faughnan granted legal aid due to the seriousness of the charges.

The man, who has not yet entered a plea, was remanded on bail in his own bond of €1,000 to appear again at the district court on May 26, when it is expected he will be served with the book of evidence and sent forward for trial.