A man who was a sports coach in the 1970s has avoided trial on charges of sexually assaulting a schoolboy as evidence was produced that the accused was not fit to stand trial due to dementia.
A case against the 75-year-old was listed for trial by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The man faced charges of indecently assaulting a boy at a school in Cork on unknown dates between January 1972 and December 1973.
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin noted from evidence given by psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright that the man was unfit to stand trial due to his mental condition.
Dr Wright testified yesterday that she met the defendant on September 2018 and she also spoke to his daughter.
There was also a doctor's report and an MRI of his brain, to which Dr Wright had access.
She said that his dementia was chronic and progressive and that he had difficulties with memory, thinking, orientation, language and judgement.
Dr Wright said the 75-year-old had mixed pattern symptoms of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
The psychiatrist said that on his current level of cognitive functioning she was not satisfied that he could make a proper defence or understand evidence in a trial.
She said that admission to the Central Mental Hospital would not be appropriate and that his present regime of treatment in the community should continue.
Judge Ó Donnabháin noted there was no need for an adjournment to see if the defendant's condition would improve as it was clear from the psychiatrist that the condition was degenerative.
The judge said that rather than adjourning the case he would make the determination that the accused was unfit to stand trial, in accordance with such legislation.
