Members of the public heckled and threw stones at a journalist as he left court on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and sex with an underage girl.

The man (50) from Dublin is facing trial by judge and jury on a total of 50 allegations dating from 2007 to 2011.

Dublin District Court heard from Garda Edward Burke that he made no reply to the charges following his arrest by gardai at 9:02am this morning.

The journalist, who cannot be named due to the nature of the charges, sat in the dock with a hand to his face during the 10 minute hearing.

It is alleged between March and June 2007, the man sexually assaulted a female at Croke Park, in Co. Donegal and in a hotel carpark at Dublin Airport.

It is also alleged in seven charges that in 2011, he engaged in a sexual ac with a child who was under 17 years of age, contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2006.

There are 40 charges of sexual exploitation between 2008 and 2011.

As a sample, one of the charges alleges that he invited, induced or coerced a girl to engage or participate in a sexual, indecent or obscene act.

Another alleges that he invited, induced or coerced a girl to engage in the production of child pornography.

There was no objection to bail which Judge Cormac Dunne granted on the man's own bond of €500 with a €2,000 independent surety.

He is to sign on at a garda station in Dublin three times a week.

The court heard the DPP has directed trial on indictment and the book of evidence will be served on the man at his next court appearance on April 29th when a legal aid applications is also expected.