Warrant issued for teen in connection with sex assault

A bench warrant has been issued for a teenager charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Dublin in March.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath issued the warrant at the Children’s Court today after the 17-year-old did not show up.

The boy, with a Co. Wicklow address, was charged with sexual assault, under section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1990, of a woman, in Blackrock, on March 21 last. He is also accused of theft of a €50 note, a sim card, and $10 coins, from the woman, on the same date.

The DPP had recommended that the case should be dealt with at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but the defendant was seeking to have it retained in the Children's Court, which has lesser sentencing powers. The issue of jurisdiction was to be decided yesterday.

However, the teenager’s solicitor, Sarah Molloy, told the court that both gardaí and her client’s social worker had confirmed that he had gone missing from his brother’s home, and Judge MacGrath issued the bench warrant.