Man charged with sexual assault of three-year-old girl

A 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with carrying out a sexual assault on a three-year-old girl at her home more than two years ago.

Garda Martina Felle told Judge Brian O’Shea at Cork District Court that the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case could be dealt with at District Court level only on a plea of guilty.

After hearing an outline of the allegations in the case, Judge O’Shea said: “I would be minded to accept jurisdiction if there is a plea.”

However, he said that if another District Court judge was dealing with the matter on a later occasion — jurisdiction could be refused.

A woman was babysitting for her niece on January 14, 2023, when the child’s father came home with two other men after being in the pub, and it was alleged that one of the two men with him was later observed placing his hand inside the pyjama pants of the three-year-old.

Barrister Carmel Goggin appeared in court for the accused. The case was adjourned so that prosecution statements could be sent to the defence to consider the issue of whether or not a plea of guilty would be forthcoming.

Judge O’Shea made an order imposing reporting restrictions on anything that might identify parties to the case.

Sergeant John Dineen applied for a bail condition that required the accused to stay away from the complainant in the case.

Judge O’Shea made that order and explained to the defendant the necessity not to have any contact. The defendant said: “There is no chance of that — I don’t know these people.”