Louis Walsh denies that he indecently assaulted man in nightclub toilet

By ELEANOR HARDING

Louis Walsh had seen Westlife sing in Dublin before the alleged incident


Louis Walsh last night denied allegations that he indecently assaulted a man in a nightclub toilet.

The X Factor judge said: ‘The allegations made against me are wholly false and with no foundation.

‘I will happily cooperate fully with the police and am 100 per cent confident that after a full investigation I will be fully exonerated.’

An anonymous 24-year-old, who is understood to be a single father, told police that Mr Walsh, 58, touched his groin after they struck up a conversation, according to The Sun newspaper.

According to the unsubstantiated claims from the alleged victim, the attack happened in the early hours of April 10, when Mr Walsh is said to have visited Russell Court Hotel in Dublin.

Earlier in the evening, Mr Walsh had attended a concert by Westlife, the Irish boyband he created.

The man allegedly told police he chatted with Mr Walsh in the hotel’s private Global Bar, before the pair moved on to its well-known Krystle nightclub.

His statement to officers claims the TV star then indecently assaulted him in the nightclub’s toilets.


The venue: The alleged assault is said to have taken place at the Krystle nightclub, inside Dublin's Russell Court Hotel


According to The Sun, a police source said the investigation was ‘ongoing’ and that officers have taken CCTV footage from the nightclub and will also study film from cameras in the hotel.

A spokesman for Mr Walsh said: ‘He vigorously denies all of the allegations. If contacted by the police he will willingly co-operate with any investigation. Louis categorically denies any wrongdoing and will fight to clear his name.’


Famous: The nightclub is one of the most popular and exclusive in Dublin
Last night, the alleged victim refused to comment.


Mr Walsh is on the judging panel for this year’s X Factor, alongside Gary Barlow from Take That, Kelly Rowland from Destiny’s Child and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos. The Irishman first appeared on the programme in 2004 alongside Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne.

Mr Walsh became well-known in the 1990s for creating the group Boyzone after deciding to create an Irish version of Take That.

Under his management, they achieved international success, selling more than 12million copies worldwide



Back to work: Louis Walsh arrives at the London Studios for X Factor yesterday


He later used the same formula to produce Westlife, co-managed by Boyzone member Ronan Keating. Mr Walsh launched his television career as a judge on the Irish edition of reality music show Popstars.

After finding a band on that show he was brought across to London to star in Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. It was on this show that he found UK fame, as mentor of the winning group, Girls Aloud.

During his time on the X Factor, Mr Walsh had success with classical-style boyband G4, who went on to have a chart-topping album and completed two tours of the UK.


source: dailymail