Jury retires in Limerick sexual assault trial of 28‑year‑old man

A jury of six men and six women retired on Friday afternoon in the Central Criminal Court in Limerick to consider a verdict in the trial of a 28‑year‑old man accused of forcing a teenage boy to perform oral sex in a toilet.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault, Section 4 rape, against a complainant who was five days short of his 17th birthday at the time of the alleged incident on 8 November 2024.

Prosecution counsel Lorcan Connolly, Lily Buckley and state solicitor Orla Farrell argued the man non‑consensually penetrated the boy’s mouth, while defence senior counsel Mark Nicholas, instructed by Kenny Keirns of Kiely McCarthy Solicitors, maintained the teen had instigated and willingly participated in the act.

During cross‑examination, the complainant, now 18, confirmed he did not protest, turn his head away, shout or try to leave the cubicle, and that he had registered on the Grindr app five days before the incident.

CCTV footage showed the boy waiting near the toilets after the alleged assault. He told the court he remained to take a photo of the accused, saying “I had just been raped”, and returned twice to wash his hands, later continuing to school and reporting the assault to Gardaí.

Medical examination at a sexual assault treatment centre found no physical injuries, but a swab from the boy’s lips matched the accused’s semen. In closing, defence counsel described the allegations as “pure fantasy” and urged the jury to acquit if any doubt remained, while the prosecution urged a guilty finding.

The jury retired at approximately 2.40 pm on Friday to deliberate.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Bearded Texan Travels / Pexels.