Youth accused of raping woman in car

Tom Tuite

A teenager charged with raping a female in a car in Dublin has been remanded in custody.

The 19-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at the Dublin Children’s Court on Thursday because the alleged offence happened when he was a minor.

The youth is accused of raping a female in a car in south Dublin on a date in March 2020, when he was aged 17.

There was no application for bail.

Detective Garda Mark Costello told Judge Paul Kelly that the teenager was arrested on Thursday and charged with the offence.

He added that his reply to the charge after caution was: “not guilty”.

Detective Costello told the court he intended to object to bail based on the seriousness of the case. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed "trial on indictment" in the Central Criminal Court.

The State must prepare a book of evidence and serve it on the youth before he is sent forward for trial.

Defence solicitor Eoghan O'Sullivan told Judge Kelly that there was no bail application at this stage, but his client will make one at the next hearing.

Judge Kelly remanded the youth in custody to appear again in a week. Legal aid was granted after the judge noted the defendant had no income.