A FIFTH YOUTH has appeared in court charged following an investigation into an alleged rape of a teenage girl in Dublin last year.
Gardaí received authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and already arrested four boys aged 15 and 16 on Monday, after which they were granted conditional bail.
On Wednesday, another youth, aged 17, appeared at the Dublin Children’s Court accused of rape and sexual assault of the girl at a location in the city’s south side on a date in February 2025.
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Judge Paul Kelly noted from Detective Garda Daniel Hanlon that the boy “made no reply” when charged.
The teenager, accompanied to court by family members, did not have a solicitor because of the ongoing dispute with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan over legal aid payment reforms.
He will appear again in November and was warned to obey several conditions: reside at his given address, notify gardaí of any change, provide a contact phone number, and be contactable at all times.
He has to surrender his passports and travel documents within 24 hours.
The DPP has given a direction for trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court, the mandatory venue in rape cases.
However, a preliminary hearing is needed to decide whether the second charge will be severed and remain in the Children’s Court.
“That is all a bit complicated; you will need to talk to a solicitor and get advice,” he told the boy and his family.
He has not entered a plea.
The judge stressed that they must not contact the alleged victim or other witnesses; this also meant no direct or indirect contact, including using someone else.
He was told he must not contact three of the four co-defendants; an exception was made because he is related to one of them who is also accused of rape.
The teen said “yes” twice to confirm he understood the terms.
He will appear again in November with his co-defendants but was warned he would be “locked up” until the case concludes.
The boys, who have yet to enter a plea, and also the complainant have the legal right to anonymity.
On Monday, the four co-defendants appeared before Judge Brendan Toale in the same court.
Translators assisted them and their family members, and the court granted bail with duplicate conditions, including an order to surrender passports or travel documents.
The court heard that one teen’s documents were issued in an Eastern European country.
Two of those boys, aged 16 and 15, are accused of rape and sexual assault of the girl at a location in south Dublin on a date in February 2025.
The other defendants, both aged 16, face separate charges. One is accused of attempted sexual assault of the girl on the same date. The other boy faces a single charge for possession of child pornography, which is allegedly one video thumbnail on a mobile device, on the same date.
The four teens also appeared in court without legal representation because of the industrial action, which has caused widespread disruption to the criminal courts.
The proceedings also fall under the juvenile protocol, which requires greater expediency and a 12-month timeframe to complete the proceedings.
On Monday, the judge noted that the youths “made no reply” when charged.
Judge Toale explained that their bail bonds outlined the terms and their next scheduled appearance date. He also said getting legal advice was “essential” and warned that they risked having their bail revoked if they broke the bail terms.
Fifth youth appears in court charged in connection with alleged rape of teenage girl last year
A FIFTH YOUTH has appeared in court charged following an investigation into an alleged rape of a teenage girl in Dublin last year.
Gardaí received authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and already arrested four boys aged 15 and 16 on Monday, after which they were granted conditional bail.
On Wednesday, another youth, aged 17, appeared at the Dublin Children’s Court accused of rape and sexual assault of the girl at a location in the city’s south side on a date in February 2025.
Judge Paul Kelly noted from Detective Garda Daniel Hanlon that the boy “made no reply” when charged.
The teenager, accompanied to court by family members, did not have a solicitor because of the ongoing dispute with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan over legal aid payment reforms.
He will appear again in November and was warned to obey several conditions: reside at his given address, notify gardaí of any change, provide a contact phone number, and be contactable at all times.
He has to surrender his passports and travel documents within 24 hours.
The DPP has given a direction for trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court, the mandatory venue in rape cases.
However, a preliminary hearing is needed to decide whether the second charge will be severed and remain in the Children’s Court.
“That is all a bit complicated; you will need to talk to a solicitor and get advice,” he told the boy and his family.
He has not entered a plea.
The judge stressed that they must not contact the alleged victim or other witnesses; this also meant no direct or indirect contact, including using someone else.
He was told he must not contact three of the four co-defendants; an exception was made because he is related to one of them who is also accused of rape.
The teen said “yes” twice to confirm he understood the terms.
He will appear again in November with his co-defendants but was warned he would be “locked up” until the case concludes.
The boys, who have yet to enter a plea, and also the complainant have the legal right to anonymity.
On Monday, the four co-defendants appeared before Judge Brendan Toale in the same court.
Translators assisted them and their family members, and the court granted bail with duplicate conditions, including an order to surrender passports or travel documents.
The court heard that one teen’s documents were issued in an Eastern European country.
Two of those boys, aged 16 and 15, are accused of rape and sexual assault of the girl at a location in south Dublin on a date in February 2025.
The other defendants, both aged 16, face separate charges. One is accused of attempted sexual assault of the girl on the same date. The other boy faces a single charge for possession of child pornography, which is allegedly one video thumbnail on a mobile device, on the same date.
The four teens also appeared in court without legal representation because of the industrial action, which has caused widespread disruption to the criminal courts.
The proceedings also fall under the juvenile protocol, which requires greater expediency and a 12-month timeframe to complete the proceedings.
On Monday, the judge noted that the youths “made no reply” when charged.
Judge Toale explained that their bail bonds outlined the terms and their next scheduled appearance date. He also said getting legal advice was “essential” and warned that they risked having their bail revoked if they broke the bail terms.
court news Dublin Dublin Children's Court Garda Ireland October Irish