6 youths charged with sex assaults against girl, 14

SIX youths have been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

It is alleged the girl was abused by the youths, whose ages range from 17 to 19, on four dates in February and March 2010, at three locations in Co Kildare.

The six, who are all non-nationals, appeared at the Dublin Children’s Court after their arrest yesterday morning.

The teens, who cannot be identified, have been charged with sexual assault and having sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 17.

Garda Paul Carney told Judge Clare Leonard that they “made no reply” to caution and that the Director of Public Prosecution has directed that all six should face “trial on indictment”.

Garda Carney had no objection to bail but asked for conditions to be placed on the youths.

Judge Leonard remanded the four adult youths aged over 18 to appear at Dublin District Court in December to be served with books of evidence.

Defence solicitor Mathew Byrne said that for the two juvenile defendants, submissions would be made under section 75 of the Children Act.

This allows the Children’s Court to consider accepting jurisdiction for a case involving serious allegations by taking into consideration the age and level of maturity of a juvenile defendant.

Judge Leonard ordered that the hearing to determine the venue of the trial for both of the 17-year-old boys would be held in December.

Judge Leonard set bail conditions on the six teens compelling them to obey curfews at their homes, to sign on daily at their nearest Garda station, and to “not have any contact directly or indirectly” with the complainant or members of her family.

They were also ordered to surrender their passports and not apply for any other travel documents.

They spoke briefly during the case to confirm they were seeking legal aid and that they understood the bail terms.

Judge Leonard told them and their family that gardaí would be calling to their addresses to check the curfew is being obeyed. They faced “serious offences”, she said, and risked being held in custody pending trial if they broke the bail conditions.

The youngest defendant is a 17-year-old boy who was aged 16 at the time of the alleged incident; the oldest defendant is now aged 19.