Wicklow father of two is charged with rapes and attempted murder

A 35-year-old man appeared in court yesterday charged with abducting, repeatedly raping and attempting to murder a woman at locations in counties Carlow, Kildare and Wicklow earlier this year.

The father of two from Co Wicklow was facing six new charges at Naas District Court: four charges of rape, including one each of oral and anal rape, one charge of assault and one charge of attempted murder.

He had previously appeared before Baltinglass District Court charged with robbery and false imprisonment of the same woman, who is from Carlow town.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in custody for a fortnight pending the completion of "quite a substantial" book of evidence.

Insp Pat Mangan of Baltinglass Garda station told the court that when the charges were put to the accused he replied he had nothing to say.

Insp Mangan applied for a six-week adjournment, saying that a representative of the chief state solicitor, Ms Geraldine Gillece, had indicated the book of evidence would be ready within that time.

Judge Thomas Ballagh adjourned the case for a fortnight, at which stage he will decide whether a further adjournment is necessary. He said he understood there was "quite a substantial book" against the accused.

The accused was handcuffed in court, having arriving in a Garda van, flanked by uniformed and plain-clothes gardai.

On both the way in and out of the courthouse he buried his head under his shirt to hide his face from cameramen. A number of bystanders taunted him as he left in the Garda van, which pulled away with lights flashing to take him to Clover Hill remand prison.

The man's brother was in the courtroom for the hearing.

The six charges against the defendant were: assault at Bagenal Court car-park in Carlow town; rape at Beaconstown, Athy, Co Kildare; rape, oral rape and anal rape at Kilranelagh near Baltinglass, Co Wicklow; and attempted murder at the same location.

All of the offences were alleged to have taken place on February 11th, 2000, against the same woman, who is in her mid-20s and from Carlow town.

The accused will appear again at Naas District Court on May 10th.