A Donegal man has appeared in court charged with four alleged sexual offences involving a child.
The man, who is in his 40s and cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Emile Daly at Letterkenny District Court.
The man faces one charge that he did, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification or corrupting or depraving a child, intentionally caused a child under the age of 17 to to watch another person engaging in sexual activity, to look at an image of that person or another person engaging in a sexual activity. The charge is contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017.
The man also faces a charge that he, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification from the presence of a child or corrupting or depraving a child, intentionally engaged in a sexual activity, masturbation, whether or not with another person. That charge is contrary to section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017.
He is charged that he, for sexual purposes, invited, induced, counselled or incited a child under the age of 15 to touch, with a part of the body or with an object, the body of another person. The charge is contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017.
He is also charged with sexually assaulting the same person. The charge is contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990 as substituted by section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001.
All four charges relate to dates in 2022.
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Detective Sergeant Shaun Paul Barrett gave evidence of arresting the man under section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for the purpose of charge.
He made no reply when each of the four charges were put to him, the court was informed.
Bail was granted on condition that the man: provide an address to An Garda Siochana; give a mobile phone number at which he will be contactable 24/7; not interfere with the alleged injured party or any witnesses in the case.
Detective Sergeant Barrett told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the matters be sent forward to Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher appeared on behalf of the accused man.
The matter was adjourned until September to allow for the service of a book of evidence.