A 14-year old boy along with three other teenagers and a 24-year old man were each charged with the rape of a woman in her thirties at Cratloe Wood, Co Clare this morning.
At a special sitting of Ennis District Court this evening the five were also charged with the false imprisonment of the woman's partner contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act at Cratloe yesterday morning, while they are also facing a separate charge of stealing the car-keys, wallet and mobile phone worth Eur250 from the same man at Cratloe.
Gardai examine the scene at a car park at Cratloe Woods, Cratloe, Co. Clare where a man and woman were attacked last night.
Three of the accused are under the age of 16. The five accused are aged 24, 16, two aged 15 and a 14-year old. The court was told that the four teenagers involved were on bail on other matters at the time of yesterday morning's incident.
Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that the state was objecting to bail for the five "because of the serious of the charges and the fear of the two victims associated with the attack who are both severely traumatised".
He said: "They are convinced that these persons will seek them out and attack them again."
Insp Kennedy objected to bail for the four teenagers involved as they were on bail when the alleged offences took place. Insp Kennedy objected to bail for the 24-year old man as he had failed to turn up in court on three previous occasions.
Solicitor, Mr Ted McCarthy secured legal aid for the five after Insp Tom Kennedy told Judge Joseph Mangan that they were all unemployed.
Judge Joseph Mangan refused bail in all cases. The judge also made an order that the identity of the two alleged victims not be published, nor the identity or addresses of the five accused.
All five were remanded before Kilrush District Court next Wednesday, the 28th of January.