Man arrested in Cork charged with raping younger male relative 31 times 

A 44-year-old man was arrested in Cork today (September 25) and charged with raping a younger male relative 31 times on occasions that go back to a period approximately 20 to 30 years ago.

Detective Sergeant Ailish Murphy charged the accused man with a total of 73 charges.

Those counts consist of 31 charges of rape, 32 charges of sexual assault and ten counts of gross indecency.

The charges date back to a period between 1991 and 2004 when the defendant was aged between 13 and 26 and the complainant was some years younger than him. Because of the nature of the alleged offences there is a prohibition on identification of the parties.

No background details on the allegations that gave rise to the charges were disclosed in court.

The accused man was formally arrested, charged and cautioned and he made no reply to any of the 73 charges which all relate to an address in Cork.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment at the Central Criminal Court or a signed plea if that arose and sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Shane Collins-Daly, defence solicitor, said that would not arise.

On that basis, Sgt Kelleher applied for an adjournment of the case until November 6 to allow time for preparation and service of a book of evidence.

Det. Sgt. Murphy said there was no objection to bail being granted to the accused but that particular bail conditions were required.

Det. Sgt. Murphy said the bail conditions required that the accused would have no contact direct or indirect with the complainant, reside at his home address which is in the UK and notify gardaí in advance if he intends to move from there.

Judge Kelleher told the defendant that not having contact with the complainant included the requirement to have no contact by social media.