A former Chairman, PRO and and founding member of the Ennis based Banner GAA Club has pleaded guilty to 18 separate counts of sexually abusing two young boys.
Ennis Circuit Court was told 69 year old James "Tony" Maher of Clonroad Beg Ennis embarked on a "serious catalogue of crime" in indecently assaulting the children – one a club hurler- in the 80’s.
He was remanded for sentencing in January
Ennis Circuit Court heard one of the victims was a player on the Banner club’s under 12 and under 14 teams when James Tony Maher was manager.
The boy was 12 when the abuse started in January 1982 and continued until March 84 – just months away from his 15th birthday.
In relation to the second victim, Det Garda Beatrice Ryan said the 69 year old first met him when the boy was hitching a lift out of Ennis and the abuse started when he was aged 11 in 1983.
The court was told the abuse occurred in the accused’s car, on the grounds of the Banner GAA club and in the toilets of the offices of Clare Co Council as well as at a B&B in Dublin.
In victim impact statements read out in court, both victims said they had attempted suicide in the years since and had become addicted to alcohol.
The former under-age Banner hurler added "If there is a God, I hope this man will burn in hell."
Gardaí said the accused made full admissions and admitted he did wrong.
Judge Carroll Moran remanded the 69 year old on continuing bail for sentence at Ennis Circuit Court on January 14.
