Navan man apologises to Louis Walsh over false claims

A Navan man apologised in court last week after he admitted making up allegations that he was sexually assaulted by X-Factor judge Louis Walsh. Leonard Watters (24), a father of two, will be sentenced in January for making the unfounded claims which he said occurred in Krystle nightclub in Dublin. Watters pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court last Wednesday to two charges of making false reports to gardaí at Harcourt Terrace Garda station on 20th June of this year and then again at his home on 28th June last. Judge Dermot Dempsey heard that, on 9th April, Watters had been socialising in Dublin and met Louis Walsh and friends in a bar in the city centre. "He travelled with them to Krystle nightclub on Harcourt Street," said Detective-Inspector Michael Cryan. At about 4.30am, Watters approached a garda on Harcourt Street and "alleged he had been sexually assaulted by Mr Walsh". The court heard that Watters went to the city's Mater Hospital to be examined and gardaí spoke to him there where he "made the same allegation to them" but CCTV footage did not support his allegations. Watters later "admitted that the allegation was false". During a series of interviews at Pearse Street Garda station, Watters claimed he had been assaulted in the toilets at Krystle nightclub but not by Louis Walsh. Defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins said his client has been "rendered something of a pariah in his community", is now seen "as a Walter Mitty-type" and is characterised as a "fantasist or a liar". He has been rendered jobless as a result of the claims he has made. Watters said: "I would like to apologise to Mr Louis Walsh for all the stuff I put him through and the allegations were false." The judge described Watters's offences as "serious", before adding: "I am considering a custodial sentence given the gravity of matters." The judge adjourned sentencing for a probation report to be prepared.