Accused claims victim sexually abused him

Added: 24-07-2012

The Central Criminal Court has heard a Leitrim teenager charged with murdering a 73-year-old man told investigating Gardaí the pensioner had sexually abused him when he was younger.

19 year-old Brendan McGovern of Killahurk, Carrigallen has pleaded not guilty to murdering John Golden on October 6, 2010 in Co Cavan.

The Central Criminal Court has heard that the pensioner was found unconscious a month earlier in his prefabricated house in the rural area of Nedd, Doogarry, Killeshandra.

Sergeant Gabriel Bell testified yesterday that he and a colleague went to Mr McGovern’s home on September 10 that year as part of their investigation into an assault on Mr Golden.

Sgt Bell told the court he also went to see Mr McGovern and when asked him if he knew Mr Golden he said he did and that he had been sexually abused by him.

Mr McGovern said the pensioner had carried out the abuse in various places, including a pub, when he was 13 or 14 years of age.

Sgt Bell also agreed that Mr McGovern’s father had told them that the teenager had not been himself, had been angry and acting erratically for the six weeks before the assault.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney and a jury of six men and five women.