Gardaí investigate sex abuse claims against former politician

Gardaí are investigating sexual abuse allegations levelled against a former politician.

The Irish Times understands a female complainant initially came forward in recent months and alleged the suspect had behaved inappropriately towards her and sexually abused her when she was a child more than 20 years ago.

It is understood other complainants have since come forward.

Sources said the level of alleged abuse outlined is at the lower end of the scale, though the victims had still been traumatised.

The former politican was involved in politics for all of his adult life though the allegations relate to the period before he was a public representative.

The female victim outlined her allegations to the Garda and also nominated the names of others who knew the suspect at the same time she did.

When members of the Garda National Protection Services Bureau went to some of those people it is understood they also gave information to the investigation.

Some of those have provided background information sought by gardaí to test the veracity of the initial complainant’s account. However, others have now lodged their own complaints alleging abuse similar to that outlined by the first woman who came forward.

The victims are both male and female and were all young children at the time of the alleged abuse.

The former politician at the centre of the case has not yet been interviewed by the investigating team.

However, gardaí were expected to continue their probe and then approach the man with the findings.

Any statement from him or replies to questions gardaí put to him would be included in the case file to be sent to the DPP, whose office will decide whether the man should face criminal charges.