A 14-year-old boy along with three other teenagers and a 24-year-old man were last night charged with the rape of a woman in her 30s at Cratloe Wood, Co Clare, in the early hours of yesterday.
At Ennis District Court amid a heavy Garda presence, the five from the Limerick city area appeared in connection with the alleged offence at Brickhill East, Cratloe.
The five are 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.They are also facing a separate charge of stealing car-keys, a wallet and mobile phone worth €250 from the same man at Cratloe.
Three of the accused are under the age of 16; the five are aged 24, 16, two aged 15 and a 14-year-old. The court was told that the four teenagers 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 seriousness 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 also opposed bail for the four teenagers as they were on bail when the alleged offences took place. He said the 24-year-old man had failed to turn up in court on three previous occasions.
Insp Kennedy said: "There is a very real fear that they will flee the jurisdiction. There is also the question of control exercised by parents and guardians, and we believe that control exercised by parents or guardians here to be non-existent."
He pointed out to the court that the alleged offence took place between 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock on Friday morning.
The court also heard that, when charged, the 14-year-old boy made no reply. The court was also told that, when cautioned, the 24-year- old man - who had a black eye - said "I didn't do it" to each charge.
The court also heard that, when charged with the alleged offences, one of the 15-year-olds replied "No" to each charge, while the second 15-year-old boy made no reply. The 16-year-old also denied the charges when cautioned.
A solicitor, Mr Ted McCarthy, applied for bail for the five. He said: "The concerns of the State can be overcome by curfews and reporting conditions. Three of the defendants are very young and can be released to their families. A substantial independent bail can be fixed as a reminder to their parents that they must abide by the bail conditions."
Judge Joseph Mangan refused bail in all cases. He also made an order that the identity of the two alleged victims not be published, nor the identity or addresses of the five accused. The 14-year-old and one of the 15-year-olds were remanded to Trinity House, Dublin.
Insp Kennedy said a second 15-year-old was considered "unruly", and as a result he was remanded to St Patrick's Institution. The 16-year-old was also remanded to St Patrick's, while the 24-year-old was remanded to Limerick Prison. All five will appear before Kilrush District Court next Wednesday.
