A dentist has been convicted at the District Court in Cork of sexually assaulting a trainee dental nurse who was working for him.
John Tait, 57, of Glen House, Upper Rochestown, Cork, faced three charges of sexually assaulting the dental nurse.
Judge Tim Lucey dismissed the first two of those charges, but convicted him on the third.
This involved an incident during which Tait opened all five buttons on the nurse's tunic and touched her with a pencil.
The nurse said she felt shocked and violated and did not return to work subsequently.
Tait told the court he was only checking if the buttons on the tunic were properly sewn on. He accepted that this was inappropriate and said it was hugely regrettable, but he denied there was any sexual intent or assault.
However, Judge Lucey said he had to conclude that the motivation was indecent. He found the allegation proven and he convicted Tait of sexual assault.
The organisation Support After Crime Services, which supported the victim throughout the trial, said afterwards that she was relieved.
Judge Lucey rejected a submission by defence solicitor Frank Buttimer to dismiss the charge under the Probation of Offenders' Act.
Judge Lucey described the offence as minor, but said he was not satisfied to apply the Probation Act. He convicted Tait and fined him €1,000.
