Boxing coach (60) admits kissing 14-year-old girl on lips

Boxing coach admits kissing 14-year-old girl on lips


Former boxing coach claims kiss was ‘just a peck’ and denies sexual assault

A BOXING coach who has admitted kissing a 14-year-old female boxer on the lips while they were alone has denied there was any sexual intent to the kiss, saying he did not know why it happened.
The coach, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl, appeared before last week’s sitting of Ballina District Court, where he denied the charge of sexual assault.
The 60 year old admitted kissing the now 15 year old on the lips while they were alone in his mother’s home, but he denied any sexual intent. He claimed he was not in a right frame of mind following the death of his father and close friend and claimed the kiss was just ‘a peck on the lips’.
The girl, who was a member of the boxing club where he was her coach, claimed in court that he grabbed her tight to his body and said ‘if only I was 16 again’. She claimed he kissed twice her on the lips and tried to kiss her again before she stopped him.
The incident took place on August 26, 2014. The coach had phoned the girl on his mobile at around 4pm. The girl explained that he told her he was at his mother’s house, which was nearby, and to come down for a chat.
She said that at the house, she sat down beside him. She said that he told her she was looking well and she replied so are you and started laughing. The girl said that he asked her for a hug and that when she got up to hug him, he started to kiss her.
She added that when she stopped him, he said, ‘Don’t tell your mother she will f***ing kill me’.
When questioned by Mr John Gordon, solicitor for the defendant, she said she had no problems with him before this and that he was trusted. She denied that the kiss was just ‘a  peck’ on the lips.
When arrested by gardaí on October 14, 2014, the coach’s reply to the charge was ‘Is this about the stupid kiss?’. He told gardaí that when she came into the house he commented she was looking well in hot pants and she would have to wear them if they went for a spin.
He said he asked her to give him ‘a cuddle’ and explained that to this day he did not know why he kissed her.
In his direct evidence, the coach claimed the comment about her hot pants was just for the craic. He gave her a peck on the lips and ‘that’s all it was’, he claimed.
The coach denied any sexual intent with the kiss and said he went to the house to meet his mother and not to meet the girl. He denied inviting her to the house and said he was sorry if she ‘got the wrong idea’. He said his wife had ‘put him out’ of their house for three weeks after the incident and that his family were very annoyed with him.
Under questioning from Inspector Thomas Calvey, the coach said he had completed child-protection training and that one of the guidelines was not to be alone with a child.
Insp Calvey said the coach knew it was wrong to be alone with a 14-year-old child but that he had nevertheless planned to be there alone with her. The coach denied this, saying there was ‘no sexual intent in it at all’.
The court heard from the secretary of the boxing club who said that after initially denying there was a problem, the coach later phoned her and admitted kissing the girl. He said he was sorry, and he was told to stay away from the girl. He is no longer involved in the club.
The girl’s sister also gave evidence. She said her sister had phoned her to say something had happened to her, that she could hear she was distressed when she called. She said her coach had kissed her and that she was afraid.
Mr Gordon said his client had never denied that the kiss took place and that he was was sorry for the effect it had had on the girl but said there was no sexual motive to the kiss.
Judge Mary Devins said she would have to take time to consider the evidence and stated she would give her decision on September 8.