The local judge has dismissed the case of a Drogheda man, 48, who admitted sexually abusing his teenage niece

Judge Stephanie Coggans said the offense was too serious to be tried in Drogheda District Court.

A local district court judge has refused to hear the case of a Drogheda man who admitted sexually abusing his teenage niece almost two years ago.

Judge Stephanie Coggans said the offense was too serious to be tried in Drogheda District Court.

The 48-year-old defendant, whose name cannot be mentioned for legal reasons, pleaded guilty on December 27, 2022 to four counts of sexually abusing the then 16-year-old victim in her home.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions had agreed to the defendant being tried in the District Court if he pleaded guilty to the charge.

An investigating garda told the court that the defendant and the injured party had consumed alcohol and drugs during the night and video footage showed the victim refusing the defendant’s demands for sex 61 times.

After reading a victim impact statement from the injured party, Judge Coggans noted that the incident had ruined the teenager’s life and refused to pass judgment.

The judge remanded the defendant on bail until November 18 to allow the DPP to reconsider the earlier decision not to send the case to the circuit court, which can impose a higher sentence than the district court.