Child sex assault accused: Girl told me she was 18

A MAN accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in west Dublin in October told gardai she said she was 18 and claimed he “just kissed her".

- BY TOM TUITE

A second count was levelled against the 26-year-old when he faced his fifth hearing yesterday at Cloverhill District Court. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

Last month, Judge Alan Mitchell learned that, following a psychiatric assessment, the man was found fit to stand trial.

The accused was initially charged with sexual assault of a female at Garter Lane in Saggart on October 20, 2025. The girl had been missing from care.

Yesterday, Garda Sergeant Sinead Connolly further charged him at the court with a second count of sexual assault of the same complainant at another location close to Garter Lane.