Man accused of raping children

A 21-year-old Kilkenny man is facing 79 sex charges relating to a brother and sister

A 21-year-old Kilkenny man is facing 79 sex charges relating to a brother and sister. He was aged 13 when he allegedly raped a girl, then aged nine, for the first time in 1992. The following year the girl's brother, then aged 12, was allegedly raped for the first time.

The man has been on bail since his first court appearance last April. He was returned for trial last week to the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on 41 charges of rape and sexual assault against the boy's sister.