A Dublin garda is under arrest in the Canary island of Tenerife after being accused of beating and raping an Irish woman.
The attack is alleged to have occurred early on Sunday morning in the resort of Playa de Americas in the south of the island.
The young woman, who has not been named, was treated for facial injuries and bruising. She reported her alleged assault to local police and they detained the garda shortly afterwards.
The man charged appeared before an examining magistrate on Monday. The magistrate declared a news blackout on the case and ordered that the garda should be remanded in custody until further investigations were completed. The Irish Embassy in Madrid confirmed it was watching the case, but would make no comment.
Three other young Irishmen who were arrested last month in Playa de Americas, accused of raping a young British girl, had their passports returned and were allowed to fly home to Dublin.
They have been ordered to report to the gardai.
Garda headquarters in Dublin and the Department of Foreign Affairs have been briefed on the case.
In a statement the Garda press office said: "We can confirm that we have been informed that a man who is a serving member of An Garda Siochana has been arrested and is detained on the island of Tenerife in relation to a serious assault."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance and was monitoring the case through the Irish Embassy in Madrid. She said it was the Department's understanding that the man was due in court in Tenerife last evening in connection with an alleged assault committed on the island.