An 87-year-old man facing accusations of numerous historic sexual offenses in County Donegal has been ordered into custody.
The man, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, had his bail revoked due to what the presiding judge described as “ongoing, flagrant breaches” of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001, and non-compliance with his bail terms.
The defendant, currently residing in Northern Ireland, allegedly traveled abroad for a vacation earlier this year without informing the relevant authorities.
Police (Gardai) stated he also failed to notify them of a change of address and had not signed in at a designated Garda station in Donegal for nearly six years.
The accused faces 53 charges in total, relating to historical sexual offenses, including indecent assault and sexual assault, stemming from alleged incidents occurring between 1988 and 1999.
Six complainants are involved in the case, some of whom were present in courtroom number 1 during the hearing before Judge Roderick Maguire at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Detective Garda Michelle McLaughlin testified to Ms. Fiona Crawford BL, representing the State, that the man was initially charged in the District Court in 2017 with conditions including maintaining peace and good behavior, signing in weekly at a Garda station, and avoiding all contact with witnesses.
However, Detective Garda McLaughlin stated that the man allegedly traveled to Spain with family members and was reportedly seen at Palma de Mallorca Airport earlier this year.
Detective Garda McLaughlin further stated he now lives in Northern Ireland and was in breach of the Sex Offenders Act for not notifying An Garda Siochana of either his move across the border or his change of address.
Judge Maguire was informed that the man has not adhered to the condition of signing in at a Garda station since September 2019, and no application had been made to amend or remove that requirement.
The accused, accompanied by a relative, further violated his bail terms by taking a foreign holiday. Detective Garda McLaughlin testified that this constituted a breach of the Sex Offenders Act because he failed to inform the Gardai about his change of address, his travel intentions, and his travel itself.
Detective Garda McLaughlin confirmed that the current application was for bail revocation.
The court was informed that the man’s capacity to understand the charges is a “parallel and separate” issue.
“In a nutshell,” Ms. Crawford added, “he has been given opportunities in the past and has failed to have regard (for bail conditions).”
Detective Garda McLaughlin said the failure to sign in became apparent after a reported sighting of the man at Palma de Mallorca Airport earlier this year.
The man had previously served a sentence in Northern Ireland and was released from prison in November 2021, after which he took up residence at an address in Donegal.
Detective Garda Darren Carter told the court he visited the man on November 11, 2021, informing him of his obligations and providing him with a handout outlining the specific sections of the Sex Offenders Act he was bound by.
Detective Garda Carter said he later became aware the man had left the State without notifying the authorities. He contacted the Public Protection Unit of the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), whose officers deal with those on the Sex Offenders Register. PSNI officers subsequently interviewed the man at an address.
Although the accused claimed he was advised by a PSNI constable that he no longer had an obligation to sign in in this jurisdiction, Detective Garda Carter said there was no record of a constable with the name provided.
The man also failed to attend the Circuit Court in June 2022. Detective Garda Carter stated that the onus was on the accused, not An Garda Siochána, to comply with the terms of his bail.
He said that the man had been given previous opportunities and “complied with neither.”
Mr. Peter Nolan BL, the accused man’s barrister, suggested to Judge Maguire that the man’s trial be listed for October, that his client remain in Northern Ireland, and give an undertaking to comply with requirements.
“He was afforded opportunities before,” Detective Garda Carter reiterated.
Mr. Nolan argued that the breach of bail was “either a mistake or part and parcel of the man’s condition,” and that new arrangements were now in place.
Mr. Nolan contended the delay in the case stemmed from the State’s failure to have the man assessed for cognitive impairment.
Mr. Nolan told the court the man “just about had a grip on reality,” citing “cognitive impairment and various other reasons.”
While Mr. Nolan claimed that the man had attended court “every time,” Detective Garda McLaughlin countered that he was not present the previous week when the matter was mentioned.
“To incarcerate this man now, when his trial is in October, would serve no purpose,” Mr. Nolan said. “It would be a punishment rather than anything else. This man doesn’t know what he is doing half the time. The delay in this case has been a failure of the State to get him examined. We have been anxious to proceed on a number of occasions.”
Judge Maguire stated he had heard “very clear evidence” about what the man was told and that a document was left with him detailing his statutory obligations.
Judge Maguire stated he was satisfied there were “substantive and repeated” breaches of the bail conditions and that the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001, were brought to the attention of the defendant at a time when a person was assisting him with his daily living.
The evidence, Judge Maguire said, indicated the man seemed to understand his obligations, and that consistent breaches have occurred.
“The accused has continued to fail to adhere to bail,” Judge Maguire said, adding that there have been breaches of the bail conditions and “ongoing, flagrant breaches” of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001.
The man was remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison, and the case is scheduled to return to Letterkenny Circuit Court in October.
Donegal pensioner, 87, remanded in custody over historic sex offence allegations was last modified: July 23rd, 2025 by
