Courts / Dublin / Report

Creche worker 'devastated' by sex abuse allegations, colleague says

Date
2020-03-06

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a former colleague of a man accused of sexually assaulting four girls in a Leinster crèche described him as "devastated" after the allegations surfaced. She recalled that he had become very upset and noticeably thinner since she last saw him. The colleague, who had worked closely with him, said she had sent him a text after the allegations emerged, to which he replied, "I'm devastated." She described him as generous with the children and inventive with activities, noting that he was well-liked by staff and parents. She denied ever suspecting him of wrongdoing and stated that the four complainants would have had limited interaction with him, especially the younger ones. The trial, which continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury, focuses on the 23 counts of sexual assault alleged to have occurred between February 2015 and December 2016. The accused denies the charges. The complainants' identities remain protected.