A former soldier who had to leave the Irish army after being shot has denied indecently assaulting a young boy.
Hugh McDaniel, 55, was interviewed by Gardai after a young man claimed he was indecently assaulted five times in the summer of 1979.
The alleged victim, who cannot be named, claims he was abused four times in two quarries and again at a house in 1979.
However when quizzed by detectives, McDaniel, of 40 Abbotswood Road, Carndonagh, Co Donegal, said he thought his accuser was “joking.”
He denied the alleged victim had ever been in his car where four of the alleged attacks took place.
Responding to Gardai, McDaniel said “You must be joking. I don’t know what he’s playing at. I’m shocked.
“Never. He was never in my car. I hardly knew the fella.
“Never. He was never in it or any house. That’s a load of lies,” he said.
When asked if he was sexually attracted to minors, McDaniel replied to Gardai “I love children but not in that way.”
The alleged victim’s sister said she first heard of her brother’s abuse when he phoned her on St Patrick Night in 2009.
The case continues before Judge John O’Hagan at Letterkenny Circuit Court today.