Donegal man (20s) charged with rape, sexual assault of girl under 15
A man accused of raping a child under the age of 15 in County Donegal is set to go before the Central Criminal Court.
The man, who is in his 20s and cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
The accused man has been charged in relation to offences, which are alleged to have occurred at his home address in 2021.
The man is charged that he did rape, under section 4, a female person, a charge that is contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990.
He faces three charges that he sexually assaulted the girl. These charges are contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 as amended by section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001.
He has also been charged that he did, for sexual purposes, invite, induce, counsel or incite a child under 15 to touch with a part of the body, or with an object, the body of another person, including the person who so invited, inducted, counselled or incited the child.
That charge is contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017.
Evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the man was given to the court by way of schedule.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed prosecution on indictment before the Central Criminal Court. The DPP has also consented to the accused appearing on a signed guilty plea should that arise.
Disclosure will be given to the accused to consider a guilty plea.
Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that the State had no objection to bail, but conditions were sought. These had been explained to and agreed by the defendant, Sergeant Doyle added.
Judge Emile Daly granted bail on condition that the accused man not interfere with any witnesses in the case. The man must surrender his passport and not apply for any new travel documents.
He must sign on once a fortnight at a specified Garda Station in Donegal and must be contactable by the Gardai 24-7 on a mobile phone.
The man was remanded on continuing bail to appear again before the court in December.
Reporting restrictions are in place in order to protect the identity of the alleged injured party in the case.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme