TUAM BUSINESSMAN FOUND NOT GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULT

Date Published: 11-Feb-2010

A prominent Galway business man has been acquitted by a jury on all charges of the sexual abuse of a school boy over 30 years ago.

63 year old Paul O’Grady of Dublin Road, Tuam, a teacher, publican, auctioneer and peace commissioner, had pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault on dates between 1974 and 1976.

Earlier in the trial Judge Frank O’Donnell withdrew six charges from the jury and told them that they are to find O’Grady not guilty on these offences “as directed by the judge”.

The jury of six women and six men took almost three hours to reach the verdict on the remaining charges on day four of the trial before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.