Parents to appear in court on rape and neglect charges

A man and a woman are due to appear at a special sitting of Ennis District Court today on charges of rape, abuse and neglect.

The married couple were brought to court on Christmas Eve and remanded in custody.

Just before noon on Christmas Eve - the man and his wife appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court after being arrested that morning.

The 48-year-old man faces 10 counts of raping four of his daughters and two counts of neglect and cruelty towards a son.

The rapes are alleged to have taken place between 1997 and April of this year at a location in Galway.

The other offences are said to have occurred between 2002 and 2004.

The wife of the man, aged 45, faces a total of 18 charges of cruelty and neglect of their children between May 2002 and June of this year.

Judge Geoffrey Browne approved applications by gardaí to have the couple remanded in custody before appearing in court again today.