A teenage boy accused of trying to rape and sexually assault a woman in a Dublin bar has been sent for trial at the Central Criminal Court, reports Breaking News.
The 17-yr-old, whose identity is protected due to his age, appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Dublin Children’s Court on Monday.
He is charged with two attempted rape offences and one count of sexual assault against the same woman on a date last year, when he was 16, reports Breaking News.
Judge Gearty noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case be heard on indictment. She granted an application for a return for trial order, meaning the case will proceed to the Central Criminal Court, which has broader sentencing authority.
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She informed the teen, who was present in court with his mother and solicitor Martin O’Donnell, that he must notify prosecutors within two weeks if he plans to rely on an alibi in his defence, reports Breaking News.
The boy, who did not speak or enter a plea during the hearing, will be given his next court date at a later time, likely during the next legal term beginning in October.
Judge Gearty also instructed gardaà to provide the defence with copies of video interviews. She approved legal aid to cover both junior and senior counsel, citing the case’s seriousness and complexity in her decision to grant Mr O’Donnell’s application, reports Breaking News.
The teen remains on bail under conditions that were set back in June.
At a previous court appearance, it was heard that he had made no comment when the charges were put to him, and gardaà did not oppose bail, provided conditions were met, reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Donnell told the court that his client had agreed to sign on weekly at a Garda station and was avoiding any contact with the alleged victim.
The teenager was also required to surrender his passport to gardaÃ.
Details of the alleged incident were not disclosed in the Children’s Court, which does not have the authority to deal with such a serious case, reports Breaking News.
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