Boy (16) charged with sexually assaulting woman in woods

Olivia Kelleher

A 16-year-old boy has been remanded in detention after he was charged with sexually assaulting a woman in woods near Newmarket in Co Cork earlier this year.

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, faces two charges.

It follows an attack on a woman in her 30s on a forest trail outside Newmarket shortly after 7.15pm on June 6th. The attacker fled the scene when the woman fought back.

A youth was arrested for questioning in relation to the incident in late June. He was held for questioning at Mallow Garda Station. He was released without charge pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecution.

The teenager was re-arrested last Friday and was brought before a special sitting of Clonakilty District Court in Co Cork.

He was charged with sexual assault of the woman at the Island Wood, Newmarket, on June 6th.

He was also charged with a second offence of exposing his genitals on the same date and at the same location intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to the woman.

Det Garda Noelle McSweeney of Mallow Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

She told Judge Brendan O'Reilly that the teenager made no reply to either charge when they were put to him after caution.

Judge O’Reilly remanded the young man in detention at Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus.

He has consent to bail with certain conditions. The youth is due back before the Juvenile Court sitting at Mallow District Court on Tuesday.