Welfare official denies demanding oral sex

A Department of Social Protection official has denied asking a woman, who was claiming benefit while working, for oral sex in return for getting her out of trouble.

Andrew Gilmartin, 47, of Drumfad, Grange, Co Sligo, pleaded not guilty to coercion. He denies compelling a woman to do an act which “she was lawfully entitled to abstain from” at the Social Welfare offices in Cranmore, Sligo on April 9, 2014.

The mother of four wept as she told Judge Keenan Johnson and a jury of six men and six women at Sligo Circuit Court that the accused became angry during an interview at his workplace. She got a letter from Revenue in April 2014 and they knew she was signing on and working. She decided to go into the social welfare office to sort it out.