Man accused of falsely imprisoning and raping women at her home in Cork sent forward for trial

Defendant claimed woman 'wanted to have sex with me'

Defendant denies falsely imprisoning woman and raping woman. Picture Dan Linehan

A judge and jury at the Central Criminal Court will hear the case against a 44-year-old man accused of falsely imprisoning and raping a woman at her home in Cork City while he was carrying two knives.

The case was sent forward from Cork District Court by Judge Mary Dorgan, on the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, and now it will be a matter for a date to be set by the Central Criminal Court for a trial.

Detective Garda Patrick Houlihan charged the accused last month with raping the woman at her home in Cork, and he replied: “She wanted to have sex with me. I did not do anything against her.” 

He also said: “She agreed with it, she called me there.” Charged with falsely imprisoning the woman, he replied: “It is not true.” 

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, represented the accused man in Cork District Court.

The case arose of the investigation of a reported incident at 9am on February 10, 2025, at a location in Cork City, where it was alleged a man fled from the scene and was found with the assistance of a Garda helicopter on waste ground nearby. 

It was alleged a man forced his way into a house where he threatened a woman, who was at home alone with a child, and subjected her to a serious assault, before she fled with her child. It was further alleged the woman suffered slash wounds.

Identification of parties to the case is legally prohibited.