The former religious principal of a boys' primary school has pleaded not guilty to 13 charges of indecent assault against a boy at the school in the 1970s.
Con Desmond, who was known as Brother Cornelius at the time, was principal of the De La Salle School on Stephen Street in Waterford city when the offences allegedly happened between 1977 and 1980.
It is alleged he indecently assaulted the boy in his office over the three-year period, starting when the boy was eight.
The trial before a jury started today at Waterford Circuit Court and is due to last a week.
The court heard Mr Desmond, who is now in his late 70s, was principal of the school and music teacher and was also involved in the hurling team.
The alleged incidents took place in his office and involved indecent assaults on the boy for up to 20 minutes at a time.
The alleged victim gave evidence this afternoon and said Mr Desmond used to tell him at the time that he was a good boy, that he was his buddy, and that he was special.
He said he used to cycle to and from school and he never said anything about the alleged incidents to anybody else, including his parents.
The man said he felt he was special as he had been chosen by Brother Cornelius to help clean the school on Saturdays.
But he told the court that the abuse hurt him, made him feel very uncomfortable and scared.
He added that it happened on about 15 or 20 occasions during the first year that the abuse allegedly happened.
In evidence, he said he thought that because Brother Cornelius was headmaster, whatever he was doing was okay because he was one of the most powerful people in his life, apart from his parents.
He added that as headmaster Brother Cornelius would not be questioned and was someone he would never disrespect.
The court heard the alleged victim say the times in the office with Brother Cornelius seemed like an eternity, but lasted maybe ten or 15 minutes each time.
He said he was abused before and after each vacuuming or cleaning session on Saturdays.
He alleged that the headmaster gave him a 50 pence piece each time he went there cleaning.
The court was told that as the boy got older, he started making excuses not to go to the school on Saturdays.
The case resumes on Tuesday.
