Man in court in Midlands pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting girl

A MAN will go on trial at Tullamore Circuit Court after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl on dates between 2009 and 2011.

The accused, who is now aged 27 and cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim, was arraigned before Judge Keenan Johnson last week.

He denied 10 counts of sexually assaulting the girl.

The charges alleged the crimes were committed on dates unknown between November 25, 2009 and November 25, 2011; May 25, 2009 and February 28, 2010; March 3 and 21, 2010; June 1 and August 31, 2010 and September 1 and November 30, 2010.

Further charges alleged sexual assaults of the girl on dates unknown betwee December 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011; March 1 and May 31, 2011; June 1 and August 31, 2011 and September 1 and November 25, 2011.

The accused entered a plea of not guilty to each charge individually when they were put to him in court.

A jury of seven women and five men was empanelled on Thursday for the trial which will take place at a date to be determined by the court.

The complainant is now aged 17, the court heard, and her evidence will be given by CCTV.

The accused man is represented by Damien Colgan, SC, with Stephen Byrne, BL, instructed by Donal Farrelly, solicitor.

The prosecution will be conducted by Kevin White, BL, instructed by Sandra Mahon, state solicitor for Offaly.