James Brosnan (43), from Ballyvelly, Tralee, says he’s innocent of eight counts of aggravated rape of a child having been charged with the crimes in Massachusetts.

Brosnan was arrested at his Sandy Bay Terrace home, in Rockport, on 21 February. The eight-year-old girl was his next neighbor at the time of the alleged incidents.

These charges were brought against him after a two-and-a-half year investigation that began in June 2009. It was initiated when a woman told police her pre-teen daughter was involved in an “inappropriate sexual relationship” with the man, according to the Irish Independent.

The courts heard that the victim alleges she had sexual relations on at least eight occasions.
The police said the aggravated-rape charge is based on the age difference between the two parties rather than the level of force that was allegedly used.

Brosnan has been refused bail and is being held at the Middleton Jail in Massachusetts. A probable-cause hearing is scheduled for 26th March.

William Korman, his Boston-based attorney, said that his client denied the allegations against him.