Retired teacher denies sexually assaulting nine-year-old schoolboy

A retired primary school teacher charged with sexually assaulting a nine-year-old schoolboy eight times in the early 1990s denied the charges yesterday and a jury was sworn in for his trial.

Leo Hickey, aged 77, of Realt Na Mara, Skevanish, Innishannon, Co Cork, was arraigned yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded not guilty to all eight charges of sexual assault.

A jury of five men and seven women was sworn in to hear the case against him.