A County Clare teacher has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of sexually assaulting three boys aged between 10 and 12 years old at a primary school and in his home.Breakingnews.ie reports that the 38-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexually assaulting the three boys on dates between September 2002 and June 2004.
In opening the case, Ms Mary Rose Gearty BL, prosecuting, told the jury that the accused man had a reputation in the area as "a well-respected and good teacher". She said three young men who are now in their teens would give evidence that the accused put his hand on their "bottoms" and on some occasions put his hand down the back of their trousers.
Ms Gearty said it was alleged that these incidents happened at a primary school, in the school grounds, on school trips in the case of one of the boys and at the accused man's home in the case of the other two boys. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of three women and nine men.
