Three people facing charges of child sexual exploitation in Kerry have been remanded on bail for another month.
One of the three accused, a man in his mid-30s, faces over 140 allegations of child sexual offences.
The other two co-accused, both women, are charged with child sexual exploitation offences.
The man faces 36 charges of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation, 34 counts of inciting a child to sexual touching and 34 charges of sexual assault.
He also faces 34 charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence or sight of a child and four counts of communicating to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child.
The 142 charges relate to alleged sexual offences against four children under 17 years of age.
The court previously heard he made no reply to 141 charges, but to the final charge, he told gardaí “I know what I did was wrong, but at that time I was feeling low because of things that happened in my life”.
Another of the accused, a 46-year-old woman, faces 33 counts of providing a child for sexual exploitation and seven charges contrary to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, including the production, distribution and possession of child pornography.
The third accused is a woman in her 20s, who faces nine charges, including facilitating the exploitation of children and providing a child for sexual exploitation, on dates between May 2019 and September 2021.
All three appeared in Tralee District Court today before Judge Mark O’Connell, and the man’s solicitor Pádraig O’Connell confirmed that he was present in court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has already directed that the three accused face trial on indictment, meaning it will be dealt with in a higher court.
Sergeant Chris Manton told the court that the book of evidence is not yet available for any of the three defendants.
Judge Mark O’Connell remanded all three accused on continuing bail, to appear again in Tralee District Court on 8th October for the book of evidence to be served.
