Accuser Charged As Sex Attack Claims Against Louis Walsh Dropped

The gay sex grope claims made against music mogul and TV star Louis Walsh were dismissed by Gardai last week, and the man who made the allegations has been charged instead.

Meanwhile, Walsh has started legal action against the Sun newspaper, who first published the story.

A father-of-two from Navan in Co. Meath, Leonard Watters was arrested last week when Gardai dropped an investigation into claims that Walsh had groped the 24-year old in a toilet of Krystle nightclub in Dublin last April.

Watters was brought before Dublin District Court and charged under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act for making a false report to Gardai.

He is due back in court in September, where he can face a fine or up to a year in jail.

He was granted bail on the condition that he provide a permanent address - Watters is currently of no fixed abode.

He's also been ordered to stay away from Krystle nightclub, and have no contact with Louis Walsh, Westlife or any potential witnesses in the case.

Meanwhile, Walsh, who shot to fame when he became a judge on hit TV show X Factor in the UK, has begun legal proceedings against the publishers of The Sun newspaper which first brought the claims to widespread attention.

A statement from his solicitor confirmed the legal action over "last week's publication of an article containing defamatory allegations of the most serious nature, which have since been admitted to be totally false, as my client had been robustly maintaining from the outset.

"This outrageous story has caused Louis Walsh considerable distress and embarrassment," said Paul Tweed of Johnson's Law.

"Louis has always been regarded as one of the most decent men in the entertainment industry, and what he has been put through is inexcusable.

"We will be taking action in relation to the damage inflicted on Louis' reputation and for the gross infringement of his fundamental right to personal privacy.

"We are also continuing to investigate other equally serious issues relating to the circumstances under which these false allegations came to be put in the public domain."

Walsh was given a standing ovation by members of the public when he returned to record X Factor auditions in England last week.

Walsh thanked his fans for their support.