A Co Galway man has been charged with 185 counts of raping three of his daughters over a 17 year period.
The 48-year old appeared before Athenry District Court today, where he was remanded in custody. He was remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison to appear before Harristown District Court on Friday.
He has been charged with 140 counts of rape against one daughter from 1991 to 2008. He has been charged with 24 counts of rape of another daughter from 1991 to 1996 and faces 21 charges of rape of another daughter in the same period.
The charges are in addition to 10 rape charges, which include a fourth daughter, and two counts of neglect and cruelty towards a son.
He denies the charges.
His 45-year-old wife, who faces a total of 18 charges of cruelty and neglect of her children between May 2002 and June of last year, also appeared at today’s sitting.
She was remanded in custody at Mountjoy Women’s Prison to appear before Ennis District Court next Friday. She also denies the charges.
The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been in custody since their arrest on Christmas Eve.
The court was told a High Court application for bail for the couple was adjourned yesterday. It will be heard this Friday.