Courts / Dublin / Report

Creche worker 'shocked and appalled' by abuse allegations, trial hears

Date
2020-03-10

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a childcare worker accused of sexually assaulting four girls at a Leinster crèche from February 2015 to December 2016 denied all 23 charges. He said he was shocked and appalled by the allegations, claiming he had only read to children in the after‑school book corner and never been alone with any of them in a bathroom. Gardaí interviewed him in June 2017, and the transcript of those interviews was read to the jury. CCTV footage from the crèche, showing the worker at the entrance, at a table, and in the book corner, was also presented, along with expert testimony about blind spots in the crèche's cameras. Former colleagues and nine crèche staff members gave evidence, some praising his work and describing the children's behaviour as innocent. The trial is ongoing before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of seven men and five women.