Man charged in Cork city centre rape case

A 32-year-old Cork man was charged today with raping a middle-aged woman in the centre of Cork city.

Detective Garda John McDonagh arrested the accused man and charged him with raping the woman at Connell Street, Cork, on Thursday, May 22.

Det. Garda McDonagh said the defendant did not reply when he was arrested, charged and cautioned that he did not have to reply but that anything he would way would be taken down and could be given in evidence.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, was appointed at Cork District Court to represent the accused on free legal aid. Judge Uinsin MacGruairc asked if the defendant was working. Mr Buttimer said the defendant was unemployed.

Inspector Michael Comyns applied to have the defendant remanded in custody until Wednesday, May 28 for the purpose of obtaining directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Buttimer said there was consent to that application and there was no defence application for bail at this point.

The solicitor asked for an order preventing publication of the defendant’s identity. Judge MacGruairc ordered that nothing be published or broadcast that would identify the defendant or the complainant.

The accused, who wore black T-shirt, a wine coloured zipped hoodie, black combat pants and dark shoes, was not required to speak in court except when Judge MacGruairc asked him to confirm if he was the defendant, to which he said: “Yes, Judge.”

It is understood that the complainant is an Asian woman in her mid-40s who is resident in Ireland.