Sunday 1 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. 0081Indecency assault · Co. Clare · 1 Jul 1973

Clare man on trial for indecent assault of two orphan girls

A 92-year-old Co Clare man is on trial at Ennis Circuit Court for the alleged indecent assault of two orphan girls who came into his care in the early 1970s. The girls, born in 1964 and 1965 in Co Clare, lost both parents when young and moved in with the accused and his wife, who was a godmother to one of them. The alleged offences took place between July 1973 and January 1975, when the girls were aged seven to nine. The man denies eight counts of indecent assault and the trial opened on 22 October 2026, with evidence due to begin before a jury the following day.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 92-year-old Co Clare man is on trial for the alleged indecent assault of two orphan girls.
  • One girl alleges two instances of indecent assault when she was about seven or eight, and the second alleges one instance when she was nine.
Where
The trial is taking place at Ennis Circuit Court.
When
The alleged offences took place between July 1973 and January 1975.
Charges
The accused denies six counts of indecent assault against one girl and two counts against the second girl.
Other details
  • The two girls were born in 1964 and 1965 in Co Clare and both their parents had died when they were young.
  • The accused married a woman who was a godmother to one of the girls, and the girls moved in with the couple.
  • The abuse ended when one girl was sent to a school and the second girl went to live with her grandparents.
In court
The trial opened on 22 October 2026 and evidence is due to begin before a jury the following day.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 92-year-old Co Clare man has gone on trial for the alleged indecent assault of two orphan girls. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne girl recalls two instances of being indecently assaulted by the accused when she was about seven or eight. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe second girl says the accused indecently assaulted her when she was nine, after she got into bed beside him and his wife in the morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates from July 1973 to January 1975. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused denies six counts of indecent assault against one girl and two counts against the second girl. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is taking place at Ennis Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEvidence is due to begin on Thursday before a jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe two girls were born in 1964 and 1965 in Co Clare, and both their parents had died when they were young. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused married a woman who was a godmother to one of the girls, and the girls moved in with the couple. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe abuse ended when one girl was sent to a school and the second girl went to live with her grandparents. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Oct2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Clare man (92) on trial accused of indecently assaulting two orphan girls in his care over 50 years ago

    Trial opened at Ennis Circuit Court; prosecution outlined the case to the jury including the girls' backgrounds as orphans and the specific instances alleged; evidence due to commence the following day.

    accused, 92, malevictim, femalevictim, female