Court remands woman accused of sexual assault

The High Court has today remanded in custody a 19-year-old woman wanted in Lithuania on charges of sexually assaulting of another female.

The Lithuanian national who the High Court heard has been in Ireland for approximately three years, is wanted in her native country where she is due to face two charges in connection with an incident which occurred in the Southwest of Lithuania in July 2007.

In a European Extradition Warrant (EAW) seeking the her extradition it is claimed that she was one of a group of teenage girls, who at the time were all aged around 16 years, who beat another girl in their company after a dispute arose.

It is claimed that after the alleged victim was beaten she was stripped and forced to perform oral sex with a male.

It is further claimed that the victim was then brought by the others to the bedroom of the apartment where she was again beaten and sexually assaulted.

If convicted of the charges, the accused faces a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison.

This evening Mr Justice John Cooke was informed that a warrant seeking the woman's extradition was issued last year and subsequently endorsed by the High Court in Dublin.

Detective Sgt. Sean Fallon of the Garda Extradition Unit told the court he arrested the woman in yesterday. Sgt. Fallon said when asked if he knew what the EAW was about the woman replied "yes".

The Judge remanded the woman, who did not speak during the brief hearing, in custody.

The Judge made the matter returnable before the High Court later this month, when an application for bail may be made.