A former religious brother was yesterday charged in court with 76 counts of child sexual abuse dating back more than 30 years.
The 74-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with 72 counts of indecent assault on three boys and four counts of buggery of one of the boys. The boys were aged between 13 and 16 when the alleged indecent assaults occurred over a 12-year period between 1956 and 1968.
Sgt Senan Ryan told Midleton District Court that the man replied "not guilty" to all charges when he was arrested, cautioned and charged by gardai yesterday morning.
The Garda had no objection to bail being granted to the man, who had always made himself available during its eight-month investigation, said Sgt Ryan.
The man's barrister, Sean O Donnabhain, said his client was denying the charges but was waiving his right to preliminary examination, and he asked for him to be returned for trial.
Judge Michael Pattwell suggested that the man should be returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court because of the four charges of buggery.
But Supt Pat Sheahan said the buggery charges were brought under old legislation, and the DPP had consented to the case being dealt with at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Pattwell remanded the former brother on his own bond of £1,000 and an independent surety of £5,000, and returned him for trial on all 76 charges to Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 27th.
He also made an order prohibiting the publication of the name and address of the accused or any details which would identify him or his alleged victims.