Cork man charged with multiple counts of raping 16-year-old girl

He was charged with 10 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two assault causing harm charges, four charges of production of child pornography, and one of possession of child pornography.

Sergeant Dave Delea said the DPP indicated trial by indictment at the Central Criminal Court. Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said: “My client was picked up literally at the airport … in this longstanding file going back four years.” He argued in his application for bail that if the accused man was refused bail he would be remanded in custody for two years pending trial and would lose his employment.

Objection to bail

Detective Garda Alan Maxwell objected to bail saying the relationship between the defendant and the complainant went on from Christmas 2019 to July/August 2020. “It is alleged it was a relationship based heavily around sex and that the sexual activity occurred when the injured party was heavily inebriated or unconscious during intercourse — there is substantial evidence in relation to this,” the detective said.

Mr Buttimer said: “I will be objecting to this kind of speculation — you have a complaint from the complainant and a response from the respondent.” 

He added that the actual complaint came from a person other than the complainant. “I accept the charges are serious. It speaks for itself,” the solicitor said.

The detective said: “The charges before the court carry lengthy sentences. Our concern is that — given this realisation — the accused may attempt to influence the injured party in this case.” 

Mr Buttimer said: “I object. I would love to know where that comes from — it is no more than prejudicial speculation.” 

The detective said: “I cannot say there has been any contact but there is a concern.” 

 Mr Buttimer said: “You need have no concern, there will be no contact.” 

Further concern was expressed that because the accused was working outside of Ireland he may not return to stand trial if granted bail. Again, Mr Buttimer said that would not be an issue. He said the accused had been in and out of the country five times since he was first made aware of the investigation.

The solicitor was critical of the decision to arrest the accused at Cork Airport on June 30 when he returned home for a holiday with his family in Cork, and said that a letter he (Mr Buttimer) had written to the gardaí about the defendant’s availability was ignored. Instead, he said, the defendant had been “arrested by stealth” at Cork Airport.

As for the prospect of the case not being heard for a long time, Sergeant Dave Delea said the book of evidence could be served on the accused within a week.

Bond

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused in custody until July 2 with consent to bail on the defendant’s own bond of €50,000 — of which €40,000 is to be lodged, and an independent surety of €40,000 – of which €20,000 is to be lodged. The indication from the accused and his mother — who will go surety — was that this could be arranged by Tuesday, July 2.

Other bail conditions require him to sign on daily at his local garda station, have no contact – direct or indirect – with the complainant, and to surrender his passport.