A 28-year-old Clare man has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court, charged with the rape of a woman in 2014.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of raping a woman in her home on the night of October 26/27, 2014.
He is further charged with criminal damage at the injured party’s home, where it is alleged he damaged various bed clothes, assorted clothing belonging to the injured party, the wall of her main bedroom and various crystal ornaments, intending to damage the property.
Inspector Kieran Ruan told Ennis District Court on Wednesday that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the case being sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court.
Garda Niamh Browne gave evidence of serving a Book of Evidence on the accused.
Judge Patrick Durcan made the order to send the case onto the Central Criminal Court and granted an application for free legal aid to cover the retention of a senior and a junior counsel in the case.
By Carol Byrne
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.