An 18-year-old and a 15-year-old appeared in separate courts yesterday charged with aggravated sexual assault during a alleged burglary at a house in south Dublin two weeks ago.
Mr Stephen Phelan (18), with addresses at Poddle Close, Kimmage, and Thomas Court Bawn, Dublin 8, was charged in the Dublin District Court with aggravated sexual assault on a woman occupant of the house in Harold's Cross on February 11th.
He was also charged with burglary, unlawful possession of a screwdriver, Stanley-knife, dumb-bell weight and hacksaw blade, and with assault causing harm to two male occupants of the house.
He was further charged with failing to turn up in court in relation to other charges.
At the Children's Court, a 15-year-old was also separately charged in connection with the same incidents. He was remanded on restrictive bail until April 9th.
In Mr Phelan's case, Det-Sgt George McGeary objected to bail because of the seriousness of the charges and because he believed the accused would not turn up to stand trial if freed. He had been arrested after gardaí had spent a week searching for him.
He had attempted to escape from Terenure Garda station in the early hours of yesterday morning after he was charged. He had failed to turn up in court previously when he was due to face between 18 and 20 charges.
Det-Sgt McGeary disputed assertions by Mr Phelan's lawyer that he lived with his parents. He also had a history of failing to turn up in court, although this was when he was a juvenile.
He was remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court on March 5th.