A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody charged with the rape and false imprisonment of a Spanish student in Dublin.

The young woman, aged 18, who had just come to Ireland in recent weeks to live with a host family, had been in Dublin on Saturday when she was allegedly brought to waste-ground on the city’s south side and raped.

Dressed in a red t-shirt, green combat trousers and white runners, the accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court on Friday afternoon. He is accused of rape, false imprisonment and threat to kill or cause serious harm to the woman at the Irish Glass Bottle site, in Ringsend in south Dublin on either 15 July or 16 July.

The man, who was described as having a significant history of mental problems, made no bail application and was remanded in custody to appear again in court next Friday.

Detective Garda Bryan Hunt told Judge Michael Walsh that the man was charged at the courthouse at 12.35pm today. “He was cautioned after each charge and made no reply to each charge,” Detective Garda Hunt.

“The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has directed trial on indictment on all three matters,” said Hunt.

The defendant sat silently at the side of the courtroom with his head bowed during the brief hearing.

Judge Walsh read out the charges and noted the DPP’s direction and said the usual reporting restrictions apply.

Defence solicitor Tony Collier told the court that in light of applications this morning to revoke other bail bonds, there was no application for bail on these charges.

Judge Walsh remanded the defendant in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on July 28 next.

Collier asked the judge to note there has been no application for bail and he asked the court to direct a psychiatric assessment and for a psychiatric report to be obtained.

Judge Walsh inquired as to the basis for the application and the defence solicitor told him he had concerns for his client’s mental wellbeing, adding that “he does have a significant history”. He had medical reports on him and had dealt with him in the past, the solicitor said.

Judge Walsh said he was directing medical treatment as the prison governor and medical advisers deem appropriate.

The defence solicitor said given the seriousness of the charge and the fact his client is in receipt of a disability payment he was making an application for legal aid, which was granted by the judge.

The accused had been originally arrested on Monday but was released without charge the following day. However, he was rearrested for the purpose of being charged today.

Comments are closed as a person is to be charged.