Teen denies initiating oral sex in Limerick sexual assault trial

A teenager has denied in court that he initiated or willingly engaged in oral sex with a 28‑year‑old man accused of sexual assault in Limerick City.

The complainant, who was five days short of his 17th birthday at the time of the alleged incident on 8 November 2024, gave evidence at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick on Wednesday. He refuted suggestions from the defence that he was seeking a “casual” sexual “hook‑up”.

Prosecutors, led by senior counsel Lorcan Connolly and instructed by barrister Lily Buckley BL and DPP solicitor Orla Farrell, maintain that the accused forced the teen to perform oral sex after both entered a toilet cubicle separately. The teen alleged the accused took him by the hand, locked the door and assaulted him while he was washing his hands.

Gardaí were alerted after the boy disclosed the incident to a school teacher later that day. He was taken to a sexual assault treatment centre, where a swab from his lips matched the accused’s DNA.

During cross‑examination, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, representing the accused, acknowledged the act occurred but claimed the teen initiated it and did so willingly – a claim the teen rejected, stating he was “afraid” and could not cry out.

The trial, before a jury of six men and six women, will continue on Thursday.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Christian Gutiérrez Martínez / Pexels.