Donegal court told accused fled Ireland before arrest over 75 sex charges

A man has appeared in a Donegal court charged with dozens of sex offences.

The man, who is in his 60s and cannot be named for legal reasons, faces a total of 75 charges.

He was brought before Judge Ciaran Liddy at a sitting of Letterkenny District Court, where he was granted bail on strict conditions.

The charges relate to three alleged victims and range from dates in 1991 to 2004.

They include 13 sample counts of rape contrary to section 47 of the Offences Against the person actct, 1861 and section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 as amended by section 21 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990.

He is also facing 58 sample counts of sexual assault, contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended by section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

The man has also been charged with two counts of attempted section 4 rape, contrary to Common Law; one count of rape contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990; and one count of attempted rape contrary to Common Law.

Garda Sergeant Harvey Maughan objected to bail. He said that the man left Ireland several years ago when the matters came to light and Gardai were unable to locate him.

Sergeant Maughan said there was a fear that the man would not return to face trial. The maximum sentence in such cases is life in prison.

Detective Garda Kelly agreed when Sergeant Maughan suggested that the evidence in the case is “robust and consistent”.

Detective Garda Kelly told the court that the man fled Ireland weeks after the matter was reported to avoid being arrested. 

The court heard that the man was then working “under the radar”, “for cash” while he was living on site at his place of work. 

The man has been the subject of the Sex Offenders’ Register, but he was not in compliance with his obligations. Detectives became aware of his return to Donegal when he turned up at a Garda station seeking clarification as to whether or not he was still bound by the Sex Offenders’ Register. 

Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for the accused man, applied for bail. He said his client is “not a flight risk”, has no warrant history and will make himself available to sign on each day at a Garda station.

While Sergeant Maughan said the man is now facing the consequences of what is before him and this has “changed dramatically” the man’s position as being a flight risk, Mr Gallagher contested that the matters were previously put to him during interview. 

The man was interviewed by detectives earlier this year and he was released pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Directions have since been received from the DPP and the man is due to be returned for trial.

Judge Liddy noted the bail objection and noted that the man resided outside of Ireland for “a long number of years” before he returned.

“He is aware of what he is facing by virtue of the allegations having been put to him,” Judge Liddy said. “The threshold of him not turning up for trial hasn’t been reached.”

The defendant was granted bail on conditions that he: surrenders his passport; signs on daily at a Garda station in Donegal; have no contact, either directly or indirectly, with any witnesses in the case; reside at an address given to An Garda Siochana; and that he be contactable by mobile phone 24/7.

The matter was adjourned until January, 2026 when a book of evidence is to be served and legal aid was granted to Mr Gallagher.