Delay in serving evidence in rape case

TWO teenagers and a 20- year-old man will be served with books of evidence in a fortnight’s time on charges of sexually assaulting and raping a woman in East Cork two years ago.

The three accused appeared at an in camera hearing of Cork District Court yesterday.

Inspector Senan Ryan told Judge Con O’Leary that books of evidence were to have been served on the three defendants yesterday.

However, he pointed out that the state solicitor for the area, John Brosnan, wanted to clarify a matter in one of the statements in the documents for the case.

There was no objection from solicitors, Eddie Burke and Diarmuid Kelleher, to the cases being adjourned for two weeks. Mr Burke represents two of the defendants, one aged 20 and the other is 17. Mr Kelleher represents an 18-year-old defendant in the case.

Each defendant faces the same two charges. They are accused of sexually assaulting and raping a woman at an unspecified location in East Cork on September 13, 2009.

The complainant in the case is in her early 30s.

Judge Con O’Leary remanded the three men on continuing bail to appear again at Cork District Court on September 21.

The judge made an order preventing the identification of any of the parties to the case.

It is anticipated that the books of evidence will be served on the adjourned date and the defendants will have the case against them sent forward for trial by judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court.