Man accused of brutally raping US tourist in Dublin park

A MAN has appeared in court charged with the rape of an American tourist in a park in the early hours of Wednesday.

The accused, who in his early 30s, was in court yesterday after he was arrested on Wednesday and brought to Blanchardstown Garda station.

Blanchardstown District Court heard he made no reply when charged with rape.

It is alleged the accused met the woman in a west Dublin pub and talked to her before they left together some time later and went to his address.

It is then alleged they walked to a park where the man became violent and threatening before forcing the woman to perform a sex act on him and then having non-consensual sexual intercourse with her.

It is claimed he then forced the woman to perform a sex act on him again.

The court heard the accused said to the woman: ‘Do what you’re told or I’ll kill you’.

It is alleged he led her to believe he had a knife and threatened to kill her, slice her, and cut her up into little pieces.

The court heard the accused attempted to strangle the woman with her own scarf and told her she was lucky he did not cut her up before leaving the park.

Garda Tara Byrne told the court the woman was left with a laceration as well as bruising, and was seen on CCTV leaving the park in a distressed and undressed state.

She said CCTV shows the accused and the woman in the pub, leaving the venue, and entering the park where the attack took place.

Garda Byrne said CCTV only recorded the woman leaving. The garda said the accused made some admissions identifying himself on CCTV footage during questioning.

Judge David McHugh remanded the accused in custody to appear at Cloverhill court on July 28.