File on Offaly man accused of sexual assault and child pornography charges still with DPP

GARDAI are awaiting directions from the DPP in relation to the prosecution of a young Offaly man accused of sexually assaulting a child, exploiting a child and possessing child pornography.

This week's sitting of Tullamore District Court heard the file on the 23-year-old, who cannot be identified by order of the court, is with the DPP.

The accused had first appeared before the court on February 15 last and gardai had opposed the granting of bail.

The court heard allegations had been made by a child who told gardai he had been sexually assaulted in 2018.

The charges followed a search of the accused's home in August 2021. The man has been charged with one count of sexually assaulting a male, one count of child exploitation and three counts of possessing child pornography.

Bail was granted by Judge Andrew Cody on condition the man move home to reside with his parents and no one residing at that address was permitted to have a mobile phone or any device capable of accessing the internet. The only mobile phones permitted were those which can be used for voice calls and texting.

The judge also imposed a curfew between 10.30pm and 8am on the accused, ordered him to sign on three times a week at a garda station, surrender his passport, have no contact with the alleged victim or his family and continue attending for counselling.

The accused man is also prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.

He was represented by David Nugent, BL, when he appeared before Judge Cody again yesterday and on the application of Sergeant James O'Sullivan, he was remanded on continuing bail to the sitting on May 10 for directions from the DPP.