A 24-year-old man has been charged with the rape and false imprisonment of a Spanish student in Dublin.
The man, who was described as having a significant history of mental problems, appeared before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin district court on Friday and did not apply for bail. He has been remanded in custody and will appear again in court next Friday.
The 18-year-old woman had only come to Ireland in recent weeks to live with a host family. She was in Dublin last Saturday when she was allegedly brought to waste ground in the city’s south side, at the Irish Glass Bottle site, and raped late at night.
The defendant, who receives disability payment, sat silently with his head bowed and made no reply when the judge read out the charges.
Tony Collier, for the defence, asked the court to direct a psychiatric assessment, as the accused “does have a significant history”. He also successfully applied for legal aid for his client.