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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Patrick Sharkey at Letterkenny District Court. Photo: Joe Boland (North West Newspix)
A former Donegal schoolteacher has appeared in court on 110 historic sex abuse charges.
Patrick Sharkey, aged 81, was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court.
The accused man is originally from the Inishowen peninsula but now lives in France.
Sharkey was brought to court by Detectives Bernard Mullins, Jonathon Gallagher and Joe English from the Buncrana Detective Unit.
He is charged with a number of offences from sexual to indecent assault against at least a dozen young boys on various occasions in the 1970s and 1980s.
All of the alleged incidents took place in north Donegal.
Detective Garda Gallagher gave evidence of arresting the accused at Letterkenny Courthouse by arrangement.
The accused man's solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said that bail had been agreed and that Gardai were satisfied with the conditions.
Mr Gallagher said that his client was going forward "on a signed plea."
Mr Gallagher asked for the case to be adjourned until January 27, 20025 to seek directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Judge Ciaran Liddy agreed and the case was adjourned.
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