“I can’t believe things have got this far,” said a man who went on trial this week accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his two stepdaughters over a three-year period.
The 46-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Raymond Groarke at the Galway Circuit Criminal Court last Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to 28 counts of sexual assault at a Co Galway location on various dates between July 2000 and the end of 2003. A jury was then sworn in to hear the evidence.
In his opening speech State Barrister Conor Fahy told the 12-member jury that the incidents involved the alleged sexual assault by a stepfather on his partner’s two daughters who were minors at the time. He said that the victims, who are now adults, suffered abuse at the hands of their stepfather and that this included indecent touching of the chest area, and for the younger inappropriate touching in her private area.
The court heard yesterday that when questioned by gardai in July 2007 about the allegations of sexual contact with the victims the accused man replied: “Not true, not at all.” When asked if there were times when he was alone with the two girls he told gardai: “There were times when I felt uncomfortable with the way they cuddled up to me.” He then denied allegations of putting his hands inside the panties of one of the victims or any conduct of a violent or sexual nature. The accused man was arrested on November 10, 2007, and detained at Galway Garda station. Gardai posed a number of questions regarding the en-suite shower in the main bedroom, the only shower in use in the house. He denied ever walking in on either victim while they were in the shower, stopping them from locking the shower room, or grabbing hold of one of the girls while she was naked.
In another interview gardai referred to an incident where he had allegedly put his hand down the panties of one of the victims while she sat on the couch with him. He replied: “That’s crap, bullshit, total bollocks. I’m angry, I don’t know where she’s coming up with that.” When asked why the victims would make up a lie, the accused said “I can think of a few things.” Asked if he thought the two victims were “conspiring allegations” against him, he replied: “They got me out of the house... I am a very strict father, they didn’t like discipline.”
The accused then took the stand and said that he had had a row with the elder stepdaugher five or six weeks prior to the allegations being made. Defence barrister Bernard Madden SC then asked the accused if he had ever sexually interferred with the girls.
“Did you put one of the victims on your lap and rotate her around your hips. Was there ever an incident remotely sexual?” he asked.
“Never,” replied the accused, who added, “I asked myself for three years what I did wrong to be put in this position. It’s been three years of misery, I’ve been sick and ill with this, I’ve lost one or two friends, some good friends are still with me. I was a strict father. I did the best I could for all of my children. In this court today I look up and see this taking place. I can’t believe things have got this far.”
The jury were still deliberating on the evidence at time of going to press last night (Wednesday ).
