A CO ANTRIM school caretaker accused of procuring miscarriages for two girls and sexually abusing others maintained his innocence at his trial yesterday.
Mr William Brady (62), a father of six, from Donegal Way, Carrickfergus, denies knowing one of his alleged victims who claims he gave her a tablet to induce a miscarriage four years ago.
Mr Brady, whose wife and three of his daughters were in court, also denies he had talked to the girls about abortions or that he had shown them a syringe tubing and a glove, telling them it was his kit.
The accused man denies eight sex offences two of procuring miscarriages and six of indecent assault between October 1992 and April 1993, in the now demolished St Nicholas High School.
He told Belfast Crown Court yesterday that teenage girls and boys, as well as some adults and even the police, would visit him at the school, where he was employed to keep out vandals. He said that he and the teenagers were "just yarning and talking, playing tapes", but that he began to discourage "young fellows - coming to the school because they would "slip off" and smash up equipment.
Mr Brady repeatedly replied "no" when asked if he had ever touched any of the girls, either accidentally or on purpose, or if he had told them that he could help them with an abortion if they ever got pregnant.
Under cross examination he said he could not explain why the girls had made the allegations against him, although he still believed that they had got together and invented the abuse claims. He said that all of the girls knew one another and besides spending time at the school, they had also met at a nearby cafe and youth club.
Asked if he was suggesting the police were also somehow responsible for the claims, he replied no but added: "It's not up to me to say anything like that".
The trial continues.