Two Co Galway men were remanded on bail on a total of 32 charges, including buggery, indecent assault, sexual assault and acts of gross indecency against two teenage boys aged under 17 years, when they appeared before Galway District Court yesterday.
The men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested yesterday morning by gardai in Galway.
One of the men, who is aged 40, faces six counts of sexual assault, four counts of gross indecency and one count of buggery.
The second man, aged 56, is charged with two counts of indecent assault, 15 counts of gross indecency, two counts of buggery and two counts of harassing a youth by persistently following and watching him.
All of the offences are alleged to have taken place on various dates between 1989 and 1997 at different locations in the city and county.
The 40-year-old man, who wore a red sweatshirt, faded jeans and a brown leather jacket in court, replied "no" when charged.
The older man, who wore an anorak, grey pants and dark sweater, replied, "Nothing to say" when the charges were put to him.
Garda Insp Stephen Folan asked Judge John Garavan to remand both men on bail for one month on condition that they stay away from witnesses in the meantime.
Defending solicitors Mr Sean O'Carroll and Mr Jarlath McInerney asked for reporting restrictions to be imposed to protect the identities of both men.
Judge Garavan agreed, but said he was "loath to muzzle" the press because it had an important job to do.
He then remanded both men on bail on their own sureties of £1,000 each and two independent sureties of £5,000, to appear before the court again on December 2nd.