A retired businessman has been released on bail after he was charged with a total of 27 sexual offences following an investigation by gardai into allegations of abuse by former boy scouts in Cork.
David Barry with an address in Bishopstown was brought today before Cork District Court today where he was charged with a total of 26 counts of indecent or sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Det Garda Duggan told the court that when he asked the 72-year-old if he had anything to say in reply to the 27 charges, he replied after caution "No, I don't - I am so sorry for anyone I hurt."
The charges allege that Mr Barry either indecently or sexually assaulted eight boys and attempted to indecently assault a ninth boy at an address in Cork on various dates between 1986 and 2005.
The state alleges that the boys - who were all members of the Catholic Boys Scouts of Ireland at the time - were aged between 12 and 16 at the time of the offences at the location in Cork.
Judge Olann Kelleher granted bail and ordered that he sign on at Togher Garda Station every Wednesday.
The court heard that the DPP had directed that the matter should be tried on indictment before a judge and jury at circuit court level and Judge Kelleher remanded Mr Barry to appear in court on January 27th.
