A sports coach is currently facing trial for allegations of raping and indecently assaulting a teenage girl at a Leinster school 35 years ago.

The 78-year-old man, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, has entered a plea of not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. He faces one charge of rape and 15 charges of indecent assault, allegedly occurring between October 1989 and October 1990 when the complainant was 13 to 14 years old.

During the State’s opening statement presented by Patricia McLaughlin SC, it was outlined that the girl attended a local secondary school where the accused worked as a sports coach.

McLaughlin explained that the prosecution would present evidence alleging that the man initially assaulted the teenager by bringing her into a secluded room under the guise of taking measurements, during which he touched her breasts. The alleged incidents reportedly continued with the accused escalating to touching the girl’s vagina under her clothes and digitally penetrating her.

The court heard that according to the woman’s account, the abuse stopped in June when she was away for summer holidays. Upon returning to school in September, she claims the accused again brought her into the same room and raped her.

McLaughlin informed the jury that the woman reported the incidents to the police in 2021, leading to an investigation. The accused was interviewed and denied all allegations against him.

The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally with a jury, is anticipated to span a week as proceedings continue this week.