A Kilkenny man told his trial yesterday that he spent four days in a coma as a result of a suicide attempt he made when allegations of sexual abuse of his grand-niece came to light. The 49-year-old married man said he had "shamefully" sexual assaulted her on five or six occasions from 1990 to 1992.
On January 19th, 1996, he first became aware of allegations she had made against him. Five days later, he attempted to kill himself as a result of "shame and embarrassment". He lapsed into a coma after drinking 2 1/2 bottles of whiskey and taking 300 pills.
He told his counsel, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, that he had affirmed signed District Court pleas to six charges relating to the years 1990 to 1992. It started when she was about 11. The accused disputed the alleged victim's evidence that the abuse started in 1985, when she was about seven. He said her further claims of rape, attempted oral rape and digital penetration were untrue.
The accused has denied 16 charges relating to his grandniece, now 18. He has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of indecent, sexual, and aggravated sexual assault on unknown dates from 1985 to 1994. He has also pleaded not guilty to attempted oral rape in 1992 and to raping her in 1994.
The trial continues.