A MAN HAS gone on trial for the alleged sexual abuse of eight boys almost 30 years ago.

The man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a total of 121 charges against the boys, including sexual assault, anal rape and oral rapes on dates between 1995 and 2007.

The court heard that the jury will hear evidence that one of the complainants allege that they were abused on a daily basis by the man.

Dominic McGinn SC prosecuting told the jury in his opening address that the man is accused of sexual abuse involving both anal and oral rape over a period of 12 years against eight boys.

He said the case involves two sets of three brothers and two other young boys who all allege that the man abused them in his homes and also in some other areas in the locality.

Counsel said the boys were all aged between 10 and 11 years old at the time and for most of them it ended when they were around 13 years old.

Mr McGinn told the jury he expects the men will testify that the accused “lured them into conversation by the offer of cigarettes” and then invited them into his home “where he would prey on their innocence, naivety and confusion”.

He said one man alleges he was sexually assaulted and anally raped by the man between 1995 and 1996 when he was between 11 and 13 years old.

A second man says that the man sexually abused him when he was 11 years old between 1997 and 1999.

The man is alleged to have abused three brothers in the one family.

The first of these brothers alleges he was sexually assaulted, including both anally and orally raped when he was between 11 and 13 years old from 1996 and 2000.

His brother alleges he was around 11 years old when he sexually assaulted by the man between 1999 and 2000.

The third of these brothers will also testify about how he was a similar age when he was also sexually assaulted by the man, Mr McGinn told the jury.

A second family of three brothers is also expected to give evidence of how they were abused by the man between 1998 and 2007, when they were aged between 10 and 17 years old.

The first of these brothers is expected to give evidence that he was orally and anally raped by the accused when he was between 10 and 15 years old.

The second of these brothers claims he was abused by the man on “an almost daily basis”, including anal and oral rape from the time he was 12 until he was 17 years old. Mr McGinn said this complainant was allegedly sexually assaulted far more frequently than the other boys.

The last of these brothers alleges he was sexually assaulted, including orally raped by the man from the time he was 10 to 16 years old.

Mr McGinn told the jury that these brothers reported the abuse to their mother in 2000 and the gardaí were alerted but the case did not progress.

He said one of the complainants attacked the home of the accused a number of years later. He was arrested and prosecuted for this offence.

It was during the investigation of this attack that the man claimed he had been abused by the accused which was why he reacted the way he did.

Counsel said his disclosure led to the other men coming forward.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.