Man (33) accused of raping woman he met on a dating site is refused bail by judge
A CO Tyrone man accused of raping a woman he met through a dating website is “considered a danger” to females, a court has been told.
The disclosure was made as Cathal Patrick Feeney (33), from Main Street, Beragh, applied for bail, which was strongly opposed by police.
It is alleged the attack occurred at the complainant’s home on March 7.
A police officer told Dungannon Magistrates Court the complainant met Feeney through the online dating site Plenty of Fish, two weeks before the alleged incident.
On that occasion, they met at her home without issue.
They met again for dinner at the Silver Birch Hotel in Omagh, but during the meal, the complainant described Feeney as “paranoid and argumentative”.
She felt uncomfortable and decided to leave, getting a lift home with an elderly neighbour she saw at the hotel.
Within minutes of entering her house, Feeney arrived at the door.
She agreed to let him in, but warned there was to be: “No funny business.”
He was permitted to stay over, but the complainant made it clear there was to be no sexual activity.
However, it is alleged Feeney pulled off the complainant’s pyjamas and held her down by the arms, while raping her.
She cried out and shouted, but he paid no attention.
When he eventually stopped, the complainant fled from the room in a very distressed state.
Feeney followed and asked what was wrong. The complaint lifted a hurley stick and told him to get out.
He responded by stating: “It’ll be alright. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
The complainant insisted he leave, and in the meantime contacted her sister.
Feeney was arrested and during interview, denied rape and claimed he was at a different address at the time.
He was charged and refused bail.
Objecting to the fresh bail application, the officer said: “The defendant is considered dangerous to females. He has a significant record of 67 offences, some of which are of a domestic nature. He is managed by a specialist unit as a violent offender. A previous female victim was left at very high risk of domestic violence.”
The officer added investigations are ongoing in respect of phones and CCTV footage, and if released, Feeney could interfere with witnesses and may fail to re-appear in court.
A defence lawyer pointed out Feeney has been in custody for over three months and claimed a trial is unlikely before 2021.
He told the court: “It is correct to say there is a criminal record, but no directly relevant convictions.”
But he questioned the
relevance of police raising the previous record involving domestic violence, contending there is “no basis in law” to use this as an objection.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan asked if Feeney “accepts the convictions for domestic violence”?
The defence replied:
“There you go,” said the judge. The defence submitted a letter from a former prison chaplain who has “known my client for six years and has developed a close relationship with him... he is willing to monitor him if released”.
Asking for Feeney to be freed to his home address some 10 miles from the scene, the defence stressed: “He is at risk of losing his tenancy if refused bail.”
Judge Ranaghan remarked: “This man is charged with one of the most serious offences to come before any court. He has multiple breaches of previous court orders.”
Bail was refused and Feeney will appear again by video-link next month.
“Absolutely.”