THE JURY IN the trial of a former sports coach who is accused of sexually abusing four girls in the 1970s and 1980s will continue their deliberations on Monday. 

The man (70s), who cannot be named due to the nature of the charges, was originally charged with 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, and not guilty to the remaining 74 counts.

The offences are alleged to have occurred on dates between 1971 and 1981 at a number of locations within the state, when the four complainants were aged between eight and 15.

It is the state’s case that the abuse took the form of kissing, inappropriate touching, digital penetration, forced oral sex and, in relation to one complainant, attempted rape.

Trial judge Mr Justice Mícheál O’Higgins earlier this week instructed the jury of six men and six women to return not guilty verdicts in relation to 33 counts of indecent assault relating to two complainants.

It came after legal submissions were made, with counsel concluding that the evidence given during the trial did not support them. Some 41 counts remain.

At the Central Criminal Court today, the jury deliberated for over four hours. They have deliberated for around five hours in total. They did not sit on Thursday as one of the jurors was unavailable. 

They requested and received transcripts of the evidence given by the four complainants during the trial, as well as from the other witnesses. 

This afternoon, Mr Justice O’Higgins asked the jury to return on Monday morning.

He reminded them not to discuss the case with anyone else, adding that there was now a “higher necessity about not disclosing matters to anybody else” amid deliberations.

The former sports coach initially faced 29 counts of indecent assaulting the first complainant on dates between 1975 and 1977. The jury has been directed to return not guilty verdicts on 16 of these counts.

Related Reads

'I felt disgusting': Woman alleges former sports coach attempted to rape her at summer camp

Trial of former sports coach hears evidence from schoolfriends of woman he indecently assaulted

Former sports coach goes on trial accused of sexually abusing four girls in 1970s and 1980s

The five indecent assault counts the man pleaded guilty to relate to this complainant.

The man has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the second complainant on dates between 1974 and 1979.

In relation to the third complainant, the man denied 41 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape on dates between 1971 and 1975. The jury has been directed to return not guilty verdicts on 17 of the indecent assault counts.

The man has pleaded not guilty to one count of indecently assaulting the fourth complainant on a date between 1980 and 1981.