Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 26895Indecent assault · Co. Clare

78-year-old man charged with indecent assault of four boys in Clare

A 78-year-old man was charged with 26 counts of indecent assault of four boys, with the alleged offences occurring between 1976 and 1981 at locations in Clare and Limerick. The Protective Services Unit at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick has investigated the allegations since 2019. The man appeared at Ennis District Court on 12 May 2022, where Judge Mary Larkin granted him bail with conditions including no contact with witnesses, surrender of his passport, residence at a Clare address, and signing on twice weekly. The case is to proceed on indictment to the Circuit Court, with a possible adjournment to 22 June for service of the Book of Evidence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 78-year-old man was charged with 26 counts of indecent assault of four boys, with 12 counts against one boy, 10 against another, three against another, and one against a fourth.
When
The alleged offences occurred between 1976 and 1981, when the man was aged 33 to 38.
Where
The offences are alleged to have occurred at Cratloe in south east Clare, Holy Island on Lough Derg, Garryowen, and the Ennis Road in Limerick.
Investigation
The allegations have been investigated by the Protective Services Unit at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick since 2019.
In court
  • The man appeared at Ennis District Court on 12 May 2022, where Judge Mary Larkin granted bail with conditions including no contact with witnesses, surrender of his passport, residence at a Clare address, and signing on twice weekly.
  • The case is to proceed on indictment to the Circuit Court, with a possible adjournment to 22 June for service of the Book of Evidence.
Other details
The accused said he had no recollection of one of the counts and said he never heard of the name of two of the complainants.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 78-year-old man was charged with 26 counts of indecent assault of four boys over a five-year period (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe man was aged between 33 and 38 during the period of the alleged assaults (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe charges are distributed as 12 against one boy, three against another, ten against another, and one against a fourth (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatThe man faces 26 indecent assault charges (limerickleader.ie)
  • what12 assaults against one boy, 3 against another, 10 against another, 1 against a fourth (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe offences occurred at Cratloe in south east Clare, Holy Island on Lough Derg, Garryowen, and the Ennis Road in Limerick (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereOffences at Garryowen and Ennis Road in Limerick and at Cratloe and Holy Island on Lough Derg (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred from 1976 to 1981 (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenOffences alleged to have happened between 1976 and 1981 (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe allegations have been investigated by the Protective Services Unit attached to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick since 2019 (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationInvestigation by the Protective Services Unit at Henry Street Garda Station has been underway since 2019 (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Mary Larkin granted bail with conditions including no contact with witnesses, surrendering his passport, residing at a Clare address, and signing on twice weekly (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe matter is to proceed on indictment to the Circuit Court (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe case could be adjourned to Ennis District Court to 22 June for service of the Book of Evidence (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe defendant can proceed to the circuit court on a signed plea of guilty (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtThe matter is to proceed on indictment at the circuit court (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtCase adjourned to Ennis District Court on 22 June for service of the Book of Evidence (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtBail conditions include no contact with witnesses, surrender of passport, residence at a Clare address, and signing on twice weekly (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe man was aged 33 to 38 during the period of the alleged assaults (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe accused said he had no recollection of one of the counts (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 May2022
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, its first report
    Pensioner charged over historical abuse in Limerick and Clare

    First court appearance; bail granted with conditions (no contact with witnesses, surrender passport, reside at Clare address, sign on twice weekly); case adjourned for Book of Evidence service.

    suspect, 78, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male
  2. 12 May2022
    In courtlimerickpost.ie, first report
    78-year old charged with indecent assault of boys in Limerick and Clare

    First court appearance; bail granted with conditions (no contact with witnesses, surrender passport, reside at Clare address, sign on twice weekly); case to proceed on indictment to Circuit Court, with possible adjournment to 22 June for Book of Evidence.

    accused, 78, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male