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. 21421Indecent and sexual assault · Co. Waterford

Former sports coach's trial hears complainant's evidence of abuse as a boy

A 72-year-old Waterford man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial for 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys, allegedly at locations in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny between 1978 and 1993. The complainants, now men in their 40s and 50s, say they met the accused as boys or teenagers through sport, a family friendship or a shared interest in soccer. The trial opened at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 April 2023 before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with Paul Greene SC prosecuting and John Peart SC defending, and the accused pleaded not guilty. By 20 April 2023 the first complainant, now 51, and the fourth and fifth complainants, aged 52 and 56, had given evidence, and the trial was continuing before the jury with no verdict reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Apr
    5 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 72-year-old Waterford man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial accused of 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys.
  • The complainants, now men in their 40s and 50s, came into contact with the accused as boys or teenagers, including as a sports coach and a family friend.
  • The accused was a friend of the first complainant's father and a coach at a sports club in Waterford.
  • The prosecution says inappropriate sexual contact took place between the accused and the boys, which the State describes as including exposure, fondling, masturbation, handcuffing, urination and defecation.
Where
The alleged offences took place at locations in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny, including lay-bys, a beach, woods and the accused's home.
When
The alleged offences took place on dates between 1978 and 1993, more than four decades ago.
Cause
The first complainant said the accused was motivated by money and gifts.
Weapon
Complainants said they were tied up in the woods or tied to a tree, and one said he was tied with twine.
Charges
The accused faces 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault, including 39 counts against the first complainant, and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
In court
  • The trial opened on 17 April 2023 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with Paul Greene SC prosecuting and John Peart SC defending.
  • The first complainant, now 51, gave evidence, followed by evidence from the fourth complainant, now 52, and the fifth complainant, now 56, as reported on 20 April 2023.
Other details
The defence suggested that the fifth complainant invented the account of being tied up in the woods, and that a complainant had no involvement with the accused; both complainants denied this.
Sentence
No verdict or sentence has been reported, and the trial was continuing before the jury as of 20 April 2023.
54 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA former sports coach has gone on trial accused of 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe complainants came into contact with the accused when they were boys and teenagers, including as a sports coach and a family friend. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe prosecution said inappropriate sexual contact took place between the accused and the boys. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly tied boys up in the woods to engage in sexual acts with them. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused allegedly offered the first complainant money to expose his penis when he was 13. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused allegedly tied the first complainant up in the woods using twine. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused has pleaded not guilty to 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly tied up boys in the woods to engage in sexual acts with them. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe first complainant, now aged 51, gave evidence. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThe accused has pleaded not guilty to counts of indecently and sexually assaulting five boys. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA former sports coach is accused of 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place in locations in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assaults took place in locations in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged assaults took place at lay-bys, the beach, in the woods and at the accused's home address. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place in locations in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on dates between 1978 and 1993. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe events took place over four decades ago. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on dates between 1978 and 1993. (irishtimes.com, kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe first complainant was 13 at the time of the first alleged incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe complainant said the accused was motivated by money and gifts. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • weaponThe complainant said he was tied up in the woods using twine. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThe charges are 266 counts of indecently and sexually assaulting the five boys. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused faces 39 counts of indecent assault against the first complainant. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe trial resumes the next day before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe accused has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com, kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe first complainant, now 51, gave evidence in court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. (irishtimes.com, kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe trial is being heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (kilkennypeople.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtPaul Greene SC is prosecuting the case. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtJohn Peart SC is defending the accused. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtThe trial will continue on Monday before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPaul Greene SC prosecuted the case and gave the opening speech to the jury. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe five complainants are now men in their 50s and 40s. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe accused is a 72-year-old Waterford man who cannot be named for legal reasons. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe five complainants are now men in their 40s and 50s. (irishtimes.com, kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe accused was a friend of the first complainant's father and a coach at a sports club in Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant said the accused did it for the money and gifts. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe complainant denied the defence suggestion that he had stretched his ages. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe complainants came into contact with the accused as boys or teenagers, including as a sports coach and family friend. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA complainant said the accused would take him to a wooded area, tie him to a tree and squeeze his genitals. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA complainant said the accused threatened to burn him with a cigarette on one occasion. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA complainant said the incidents continued weekly until he was 15 and that he received money from the accused. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence suggested that a complainant had no involvement with the accused, and the complainant denied this. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused is a 72-year-old Waterford man. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe prosecution says inappropriate sexual contact took place between the accused and the boys. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe fifth complainant, now 56, said he joined a sports team coached by the accused at about age 12. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe fifth complainant said the man would take him to a wooden area, tie him to a tree, then squeeze his genitals and threaten him. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe fifth complainant said the incidents continued on a weekly basis until he was 15. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe fourth complainant, now 52, said he first met the accused when he started playing sports at about seven years old. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe fourth complainant said he was tied with twine in the accused's office on his ninth birthday. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe defence suggested the fifth complainant made up the story about being tied up in the woods, which he rejected. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Apr2023
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Man tells trial he was tied to tree as a child and abused by former sports coach

    Trial report on the evidence of two complainants (aged 52 and 56). The article does not describe the other three complainants individually. The accused has pleaded not guilty.

    accused, 72, malevictim, 56, malevictim, 52, male
  2. 20 Apr2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Woods where Waterford sports coach took boys was ‘torture place’, court hears

    First report of the trial: it covers the State's case, the pleas, and evidence from the fourth and fifth complainants. The article does not give a single incident date.

    accused, 72, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male
  3. 20 Apr2023
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, follow-up
    Trial hears from first alleged victim in the trial of former sports coach from Waterford

    Reports the opening of the trial, the prosecution's opening speech, and evidence from the first complainant, now 51. The accused has pleaded not guilty and the trial is continuing.

    accused, 72, malevictim, 51, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male
  4. 18 Apr2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Sports coach would tie up boys up in woods to engage in sex acts, trial told

    Reports the opening of the trial and the first complainant's evidence, including that the accused tied boys up and offered money for sexual acts. The accused faces 39 counts against him in this trial, and the trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.

    accused, 72, malevictim, 51, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male
  5. 17 Apr2023
    In courtkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Former sports coach goes on trial for sexual assaulting boys at locations in Kilkenny, Waterford, and Cork

    Report on the opening of the trial. No existing case in the list matches this trial.

    accused, 72, malevictim, male