Boys who accuse teacher of sexual assault deny misinterpreting friendly gestures

Three boys who allege that they were sexually assaulted by a Co Clare teacher have denied during cross-examination at his trial that they "misinterpreted" tactile or friendly gestures made to them by the accused.

The 38-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 counts of sexually assaulting the boys, who were aged between 10 and 12 years old, on dates between September 2002 and June 2004.