A 34-year-old Tullamore man facing charges of abduction and sexual assault involving a 10-year-old girl was remanded in custody when he appeared at Mullingar District Court yesterday.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stood with his head bowed almost throughout the 30-minute hearing and did not speak.
The accused man is charged with the false imprisonment of a person contrary to Section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act at Aghamore, Kilbeggan, on June 11th and at a place unknown sexually assaulting a female contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act.
Det Sgt Aidan Foley, Athlone Garda Station, told Judge John F. Neilan he arrested the accused at his home in Tullamore at 4 a.m. on Wednesday and conveyed him to Athlone Garda station. When charged with the two offences the accused man had replied: "My solicitor told me to say nothing."
Supt Padraig Rattigan, who appeared for the DPP, sought a remand in custody in view of the serious nature of the charges. He advised Judge Neilan that they involved the abduction of a 10-year-old girl and a sexual assault.
Applying for bail on behalf of her client, Ms Ciara Farrell, solicitor, said the accused was living in Tullamore with his parents. He works full-time in a local firm, having previously worked in the bar trade.
When the defendant was remanded in custody to Clover Hill prison to appear at Tullamore District Court next Wednesday, Det Sgt Foley asked that the name of the injured party not be published.
"What is the point if the main TV station is going to have afternoon tea with the parents of the child," Judge Neilan said.
"It is outrageous that a TV station should speak to the parents. This is a serious business. It is about satisfying justice. The parents might be impressed by a large number of people being present at the house but if the media think they are going to trespass on justice they will get a rude awakening," the judge said.
He suggested that the Director General of RTÉ should be asked the whereabouts of the interview tape as he was concerned it could undermine the trial.
Judge Neilan, who prohibited the publication of the names of both the accused man and the victim, cautioned the media to treat all parties with absolute dignity and not to turn the case into a media circus.