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Some of the alleged offences happened at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin,. Shutterstock/Josemaria Toscano
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76-year-old former Church of Ireland worker faces 75 charges of child sex abuse

He appeared in court today.

Updated 2.28 pm

A 76-YEAR-OLD man replied “no comment” to gardaí when charged with 75 child sexual offences in Dublin this morning.

Patrick O’Brien, a former Church of Ireland lay worker with an address on Knocklyon Road in Templeogue, was arrested by gardaí at 8.10am today and taken to Terenure garda station where the charges were put to him.

A judge ruled that the man could be named following an application from RTÉ today.

The alleged accounts of indecent assault are alleged to have happened over a 13-year period between 1977 and 1990.

The man appeared in court after midday where he was granted bail on a bond of €500.

He was also told he must reside at the address he has provided to the court and sign on once a week at Terenure Garda Station.

No application for legal aid was made.

The court heard that there are a number of different complainants related to the charges against him.

The 76-year-old was arrested by gardai from the Sexual Crime Management Unit, which is part of the newly established Child Protection and Human Exploitation Bureau.

The man is due to appear in court again on the morning of 28 July.

Originally published at 2.32pm

Read: Allegations of child sex abuse made against 76 British politicians>