Andrew Carey
AN application to strike out 34 rape charges has been refused by a district court judge after the accused man claimed that the State has delayed the case before the courts.
The 33-year-old accused man who is charged with 34 counts of rape on a woman who is alleged to have been held against her will for six days in Limerick city earlier this year.
The man who can not be named for legal reasons also faces seven counts of false imprisonment, four counts of assault and two counts of sexual assault on dates between May 3 and 9 of this year.
Defence solicitor John Devane made an application before Judge Eugene O’Kelly at Limerick District Court stating that his client has been in custody for nearly six months and the book of evidence is still not complete.
Sgt Donal Cronin told the court that the seriousness and volume of charges has delayed the completion of the book of evidence.
Judge O’Kelly said that there was no undue delay and refused the application after he outlined that the new charges were only preferred eight weeks ago.
The 33-year-old was further remanded in continuing custody until November 19 next.<
