THREE MEN yesterday pleaded guilty to sex assaults on a schoolgirl when she was 12 and 13.
The men were immediately placed on the register of sex offenders by Judge Gerard Griffin at Donegal Circuit Court.
Paul Gilmore (30), unemployed, admitted three offences in July, September and November 2003, when the girl was 13.
Colin Reynolds (27), unemployed, admitted one offence against the girl when she was 12, between June 1st and August 31st, 2002.
Chef Ronan Lowther (25), of Mountcharles, admitted one offence of unlawful sex in October 2003, when the girl was 13.
Initially, Lowther denied two offences, and a jury of six men and six women was sworn in to deal with his trial. But before his case opened he changed his plea to guilty to one offence.
Eileen O’Leary, prosecuting, said she was not proceeding on the second charge against Lowther.
Judge Griffin was told that full details will be revealed in all cases later and he remanded Gilmore, of Lawne Park, Ballyshannon, on bail to reappear before him next Wednesday.
The judge remanded Reynolds, of Highfield, Ballyshannon, and Lowther on bail for probation reports to reappear at a special sitting of the court on July 5th.
The girl, who is now aged 20, was in court to hear the guilty pleas and looked relieved at the verdicts.
David Goldberg, for Reynolds, said he was “very remorseful”, and the probation service report would be helpful.
Peter Nolan, for Lowther, said he had a very good work record.
One man from Ballyshannon, Kenneth McDonald (34), a father of three, was jailed last June for two years and three months for four counts of sex assaults on the girl in the south Donegal area.
Charges are still outstanding against two other men.