More charges against man over Spanish student rape

TWO further rape charges have been brought against a man accused of a sex attack and the false imprisonment of a Spanish student in Dublin.

The 18-year-old-woman, who was staying with a host family, was allegedly brought to waste ground on the southside and raped on July 15.

The 24-year-ld accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was originally charged with rape, false imprisonment and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman at the Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend.

Described by his lawyer as having a significant history of mental problems, he made no bail application at his first hearing on July 21.

He faced his fifth hearing yesterday when he appeared before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court.

Three fresh charges were brought in connection with the incident: two additional counts of raping the woman and one charge of sexually assaulting her between July 15 and July 16 last.

There was no application for bail. The judge remanded him in custody to appear next week for mention and for a book of evidence to be prepared. The defendant has not yet indicated how he will plead.

At his first hearing in July, the court directed that a psychiatric assessment be obtained following a request by his solicitor, who said the man ‘does have a significant history’. The basis for the application was concerns raised by the defence for his mental wellbeing.

The defence solicitor had said that given the seriousness of the charge and the fact that his client was in receipt of a social welfare payment, he was making an application for legal aid, which was also granted.

The accused had been arrested on July 17, two days after the alleged rape, but was released without charge the following day.

However, he was re-arrested for the purpose of being charged on July 21 and has been in custody on remand since then.