Clare teacher acquitted on two of 18 sex assault charges
on 03/07/2009 16:37:05
A Co Clare teacher accused of sexually assaulting three boys aged between 10 and 12 years has been acquitted on charges relating to one of the boys.
The jury will continue their deliberations on Monday in relation to the alleged assaults on the other two children. It was day four of the trial
The 38-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 18 counts of sexually assaulting the boys on dates between September 2002 and June 2004.
Judge Patrick McCartan had earlier in the trial directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on eight of the counts against one of the boys due to a lack of evidence.
The jury reached its not guilty verdict on two counts of sexual abuse against the then 10-year-old boy following 50 minutes' deliberation.
He was alleged to have sexually assaulted him on November 31, 2002 in the primary school's community hall and between September 2, 2002 and June 25, 204 in the school bathroom.