An 88-year old former Christian Brother standing trial on charges of historic sexual abuse has “opted” not to give evidence, a court has heard.
The trial, now in its second week, is being held at Belfast Crown Court where it emerged that Paul Dunleavy would not be called to the witness box.
From Glen Road in Belfast, he has been charged with over 30 sexual offences which the Crown alleges were committed against schoolboys over a period spanning from 1964 to 1991.
The charges relate to nine complainants who claim they were abused as children at four separate schools were Dunleavy either taught or was the headmaster.
He has denied all the offences and on Monday a police officer was called to give evidence regarding interviews conducted with Dunleavy after the allegations were made.
The senior officer confirmed Dunleavy was interviewed by the PSNI in December 2018 and again in October 2022.
During these interviews, the accused has the allegations made by the complainants put to him - and he either denied the claims with responses such as “it didn’t happen” or said “no comment” to questions asked by police.
He was also shown images of some of the complainants as children and said he didn’t recognise them.
Whilst the police officer was in the witness box, defence barrister Gary McHugh KC cited difficulties such as “the passage of time which can affect memory”, a lack of physical or forensic evidence and the location and identification of witnesses - some of whom are now deceased.
She agreed that these issues could create challenges.
After the police officer left the witness box, Crown barrister Neil Connor KC told Judge Patrick Lynch KC that he was “in a position to close the prosecution’s case”.
The judge was then addressed by Mr McHugh who revealed that his client Dunleavy has “opted” not to give evidence and “will not be calling any defence witnesses”.
As no further witnesses will be called, the trial is now in its final stages and the jury will hear closing speeches from the Crown and defence barristers and will also be addressed by Judge Lynch before deliberating and returning verdicts on the charges.
At hearing.