Midlands GAA ex-caretaker facing 144 child sex abuse charges

A former caretaker at a Midlands GAA ground has appeared in court in Longford charged with more than 100 child sexual abuse offences.

The 62-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces charges relating to child sexual exploitation, sexual assault and production and possession of child pornography at two locations.

The 144 charges relate to dates between 2000 and 2013 and the court was informed that they relate to four alleged victims.

The court heard the man was arrested at 8.15am Friday morning. He didn’t speak during his appearance in court. The accused was granted bail on his own bond of €500 with an independent cash surety of €500.

Under the conditions of bail, he was ordered to surrender his passport and not apply for a duplicate and to reside at the address on the charge sheets and not change address without prior approval.

He was also required to not have contact directly, indirectly or through social media with any of the alleged victims or witnesses in the case.

Reporting restrictions apply in the case which prohibit the publication of the names of the alleged victims or the accused.

The accused man was granted legal aid and remanded the man on bail to appear in court again in September.