Faces CCC judge on rape charges

A Cavan man is to be sent forward to stand trial before a judge in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on charges in relation to the alleged rape and sexual assault of a female over a decade ago.

The male, who cannot be named so as to protect the identity of his alleged victim, appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan at a recent sitting of Cavan District Court.

He faces five counts in total - two of sexual assault and three of rape.

The alleged offences occurred at a location in the county over a near two-month period in 2013, when the accused would have been aged in his mid-teens at the time.

There was no objection to bail, and Garda Sergeant Karl Colgan informed Judge Finnegan that the defendant had met him by arrangement for the purposes of arrest.

He formally charged, as set out, at Cavan Garda Station and after caution replied “no comment” to each when read out.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed that the male be sent forward for trial on indictment to the CCC, on a signed plea if available.

The defendant was represented at the court sitting in Cavan by solicitor Jacqueline Maloney, with the case adjourned to a date next month for formal service of a Book of Evidence.

Legal aid was granted.