Rape charges against Irish backpackers in Australia dropped

RAPE charges against two young Irish backpackers accused of repeatedly assaulting a Canadian tourist in northern Australia have been dropped due to insufficient evidence.

The two students, now aged 20 and 21, had been on bail since they were first charged more than four months ago.

Darwin Magistrates Court was due to hold a preliminary hearing yesterday but instead prosecutor Therese Austin revealed the charges have been dropped.

The two Irishmen did not appear in court yesterday as they were not in the Northern Territory state. While on bail, the pair remained in Australia as they had to surrender their passports but they were now free to leave the country.

The 20-year-old Canadian tourist accused the two men of attacking her as they walked her home following a night out in February.

They faced 17 charges between them, of sexual intercourse without consent, deprivation of liberty and aggravated assault.

An earlier court hearing was told the men were walking the woman back to her hostel. They then allegedly pushed her in to a laneway car park.

The young woman claims they began kissing her and grabbing her breasts and buttocks. She further claimed she told them it was wrong and to stop.

It was alleged they then repeatedly raped her. After, they are said to have walked her back to the hostel, where she packed her bags, flew to Cairns on the east coast and reported the alleged incident to police.

The claims were strenuously denied by the men.

Following their arrest, the 20-year-old who was 19 at the time, was charged with seven counts of sexual intercourse without consent, one count of deprivation of liberty and one count of aggravated assault. The 21-year-old was charged with six counts of sexual intercourse without consent, one count of deprivation of liberty and one count of aggravated assault.

Ms Austin said yesterday all charges had been withdrawn as there was insufficient evidence to pursue the prosecution.