Donegal man pleads guilty to defilement, sexual assault

A Donegal man has pleaded guilty to a charge of defilement and to eight counts of sexual assault.

The man pleaded guilty when he appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where he was formally arraigned before Judge John Aylmer.

The man, who is in his 40s, cannot be named at this stage of proceedings in order to protect the identity of the victim.

The accused man spoke only to tender a plea to the nine charges when they were put to him by the court registrar.

He pleaded guilty to the defilement of a child under 17 years of age at a named location in County Donegal in 2014 when he engaged in a sexual act, namely sexual intercourse, with the victim.

The man also pleaded guilty to eight charges of sexual assault relating to the same victim.

Mr Garnet Orange SC, instructed by the man’s solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, said he was not seeking the preparation of any reports at this point and asked that the accused be allowed to remain on bail.

There was no State objection to the man being remanded on continuing bail.

The matter was adjourned to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.