Two men accused of raping a woman in the car park of Ceannt Railway Station in Galway last month have been further remanded in custody; however both refused the necessary consent to be remanded for a month to allow the DPP time to gather evidence of the alleged rape and false imprisonment.
Both accused appeared via video-link from prison before Judge Fiona Lydon at Galway District Court on Monday. The hearing was assisted by an Arabic interpreter.
Both men refused to give their consent to being remanded in custody for a further month and were then remanded for two weeks, which is the maximum Judge Lydon could accede to in such circumstances.
One defendant, through the interpreter, said he was recently married and wanted to see his wife.
Both face charges of the rape of a female at Ceannt Railway Station car park on August 1. They also face charges of falsely imprisoning the alleged victim on that date and at the same location.
The accused, aged 27 and 25, were refused bail when they came before Galway District Court last week.
Judge Fiona Lydon was told on Monday morning, September 7, that Gardaí were awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, in relation to both cases.
Sergeant Damien Prendergast told the Court that files were being considered by the DPP at present. He sought an adjournment, by consent, to October 5, in relation to each of the accused, but both refused their consent to this.
Speaking through the interpreter, the younger of the two men detailed how he was keen to secure bail as he had recently married and had not seen his wife for some time.
Their defence solicitor told Judge Lydon that bail applications for both men were before the High Court and this application might be heard this Thursday.
Judge Lydon said she had not been presented with any information which might lead her to grant bail, and in light of their attitude to consent to a one-month remand remanded them in custody for a further two weeks to appear before the court via video-link on September 21.
She told the men that should the High Court grant them bail and they are released from prison, they had to appear before her in person on that date.
