An accused private school teacher of sexually assaulting an adolescent girl was able to break down and tell a jury that he didn’t do those things.
Philip Mulcahy, who is known as Mark, is on trial for allegedly abusing the girl over a two year period at the £15,000 a year Bournemouth Collegiate School.
Mulcahy, 58, is accused of making the schoolgirl stay behind after class before touching her beneath the table and then telling her ‘well done’.
Another time, the girl told how he touched her underneath her bras and underwear.
The married teacher, she claimed, also took her to a hotel lift during school trips and attacked her.
Bournemouth Crown Court brought him before them, and he has denied the three counts of assault sexually.
The history teacher and rugby coach broke down in tears as he told a jury that the incidents ‘never happened’ and he could not understand why he was being accused.
He claimed that he was shocked by the fact that he had only been interviewed once by police about his allegations. Officers did not confirm his story with other teachers who were on the trip, he said.
Philip Mulcahy (pictured), who is known as Mark, is on trial for allegedly abusing a teenage girl over a period of two years at the £15,000 a year Bournemouth Collegiate School
Mulcahy, 58, is accused of making the schoolgirl stay behind after class at the private school (pictured) before touching her beneath the table and then telling her ‘well done’
According to him, he told the court that he trusted the police with his safety and believed they would conduct an adequate investigation.
Jodie Mittel, the prosecutor, told the jury previously that Jodie had repeatedly and frequently abused Jodie on the school grounds.
According to her, she said that during an interview with the police she had difficulty finding the right words to describe what happened. So the officer (police) asked her some more questions.
“When she was asked who touched her, she said Mr Mulcahy. When she was asked how it happened, she replied that he would take her home after class.
“She was requested to note the names of any body parts that he touched. She wrote the following words: breast, legs and waist. It had been repeated many times, she agreed.
She said that it occurred in her history room, while sitting on her seat.
She said that he took her in to talk with her. She said that he told her she did well in class.
“He got closer to her. She said that he raised her skirt and reached her hips.
He said “thanks and well done” and she was free to go.
The court heard Mulcahy had volunteered as a rugby coach for 33 years and worked with the RFU’s London and South East division development team before moving to Dorset.
His expertise was in the coaching of young rugby players. He also ran camps to pre-select England team members, including Jonny Wilkinson (coaching) and Simon Amor (ex-england rugby sevens captain).
According to him, he has been subjected to regular safeguarding inspections due his work and hobbies and has never missed a check.
He told police he was ‘totally gobsmacked’ when he was first arrested after the girl confided in an adult.
Mulcahy, who has three adult daughters and is married to an NHS midwife, told the court he had ‘no recollection’ of being alone with the girl at any time and claimed the alleged abuse did not happen.
When asked about his arrest, he replied: “I was very shocked.”
“I tried to think of all possible pupils, was there any thing I could have said or done, is something misunderstood?” But I couldn’t think of anything.
When I arrived home, all of my family was ready for me. I vividly remember walking into the bedroom with my wife, breaking down and crying.
“The school suspended me the following day. I was mad because I knew I didn’t do anything wrong. All I wanted was to live my normal life.
The history teacher and rugby coach broke down in tears as he told a jury that the incidents ‘never happened’ and he could not understand why he was being accused. The former rugby coach and history teacher said that it was surprising that the police interviewed him about these allegations. He also claimed that officers didn’t corroborate his story by talking to other teachers who were on the trip.
He said that he never felt alone on the school trip. [the complainant]During that journey. This never took place.
Mulcahy wept in the witness booth, and was then asked why he was so upset.
He said: ‘Because I know I didn’t do these things.’
Mulcahy was also suspended from any RFU activities, according to the court.
This made him feel very alone and like he’d lost something.
He replied, “I do not know why I am being singled out.”
‘It’s caused a lot of stress and worry for my family and had a financial impact. It’s been a very difficult time.’
Mulcahy denied the three counts of assault sexually.
The trial is continuing.