A 38-year-old Galway man who is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a minor has been granted bail with strict conditions.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was brought before Galway District Court on Monday charged with seven counts of raping a girl and three counts of sexually assaulting her on dates unknown between September 1, 2004, and February 28, 2005.
According to garda evidence the man was arrested before the court sitting and that in reply to two of the charges he said: “I swear on my dad’s grave I don’t remember being at the girl”, and, “I know I didn’t go near the girl”.
Inspector Pat McHugh said that the accused was currently in custody and that there would be no objection to bail if strict conditions were applied. He added that the DPP had directed that the charges be dealt with by indictment in the Central Criminal Court and that the book of evidence will be ready by next Monday.
Judge Mary Fahy then remanded the accused on his own bail of €2,000 to appear again at Galway District Court on April 19 for service of the book of evidence.
The conditions of bail are that the man continues to reside at the address furnished to gardai, has no contact either directly, indirectly or by any other person, with the injured party, and that he signs on at Galway Garda Station three days a week between 9am and 9pm. Legal aid was also granted
