Man set to stand trial over alleged rapes in Inishowen

A man is set to go on trial after being charged with raping a woman twice in Inishowen four years ago.

A book of evidence was served on the man, who is aged in his 30s and cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of the alleged victim in the case.

The man, who has an address in England, appeared at Letterkenny District Court. Garda Gillian Page gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on the man.

He is charged with raping the same woman twice at the same named location in September 2019.

The man was charged contrary to Section 48 Offences Against the Person Act, 1861 and Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act, 1981 as amended by section 21 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has consented for the man to be forwarded for trial to the present sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Judge Ciaran Liddy made an order returning the accused for trial and administered the alibi warning. A section 56 order, relating to tapes of interviews, was also made and a publication order, issued previously in the court, is to stay in place.

There were no Garda objections to bail.

Legal aid was granted to solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher and two legal counsel were assigned in the case.