Schoolboy charged with rape

A 17-year-old schoolboy charged with raping a female in Dublin last May has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.

The teenager, who cannot be identified, had been charged in November with rape at a location in north county Dublin, on May 2 last.

Garda Olivia Fleming had told the Dublin Children's Court that the DPP had directed “trial on indictment”. The teen made “no reply” when he was charged, she had also said.

The boy, who was accompanied to his case by his father, appeared again at the Children's Court today where he was served with a book of evidence.

Judge Bryan Smyth then made an order sending him forward for trial.

Due to the nature of the allegation, the defence could not make submissions pleading with the juvenile court to consider accepting jurisdiction to deal with a case.