Woman accused of sexually assaulting brother

A 46-year-old woman was put on trial by judge and jury yesterday accused of sexually assaulting her brother when he was aged from nine and she was in her early 20s.

The complainant said that years later, having ended all communication with his family, he brought this complaint of sexual abuse after his sister and his mother initiated legal proceedings to have access to the child that he and his partner had. He said he did not want his sister — the subject of his complaints — to have access to his or any child.

The woman pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges of sexual assault, and a jury of six men and six women was sworn in to hear the case before Judge Brian O’Callaghan at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.