Man arrested at Cork Airport and charged with multiple rapes of teenage girl

A man was arrested at Cork Airport over the weekend and is accused of repeatedly raping a 16-year-old girl and producing child pornography. The two people involved were reportedly in a relationship around four years ago.

Detective Garda Alan Maxwell charged the man, who was 29 at the time of the alleged offences and is now nearly 33 years old.

He was charged with ten counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of assault, four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

Sergeant Dave Delea said the prosecutor had indicated that the case would be brought before the Central Criminal Court by indictment.

Defence lawyer Frank Buttimer said: “My client was literally picked up at the airport… four years have passed in this long-running file.”

In his application for bail, he argued that if the accused was denied bail, he would be remanded in custody for two years and would lose his job.

Detective Garda Alan Maxwell objected to bail on the grounds that the relationship between the accused and the complainant lasted from Christmas 2019 to July/August 2020.

“It is alleged that this was a relationship that was heavily based on sex and that the sexual activity occurred when the injured party was heavily intoxicated or unconscious during intercourse – there is substantial evidence of this,” the detective said.

Mr Buttimer said: “I will challenge that kind of speculation – you have a complaint from the complainant and a response from the defendant.”

He added that the actual complaint came from someone other than the complainant.

“I accept that the charges are serious. That speaks for itself,” said the lawyer.

The investigator said: “The charges before the court provide for long prison sentences. Our fear is that the defendant – given this knowledge – could try to influence the victim in this case.”

Mr Buttimer said: “I object. I would like to know where this comes from – it is nothing more than biased speculation.”

The detective said: “I can’t say there was contact, but there is cause for concern.”

Mr Buttimer said: “You don’t need to worry, there will be no contact.”

In addition, concerns were raised that because the accused was working outside Ireland, he might not be able to return and face trial if released on bail.

Again, Buttimer said that was not a problem. He said the defendant had been in and out of the country five times since he first heard about the investigation.

The lawyer criticised the decision to arrest the accused at Cork Airport on Sunday (30 June) as he was returning home to holiday in Cork with his family. He said a letter he (Mr Buttimer) had written to the Gardaí about the accused’s availability had been ignored. Instead, he said the accused was “secretly arrested” at Cork Airport.

As for the possibility that the case will not be heard for an extended period of time, Sergeant Dave Delea said the defendant could be served with the evidence book within a week.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused in custody until July 2, with the consent of the accused’s bail in the sum of €50,000 – of which €40,000 is to be paid – and an independent surety in the sum of €40,000 – of which €20,000 is to be paid. The accused and his mother – who will act as surety – indicated that this could be arranged by tomorrow (July 2).

Further bail conditions require him to report daily to his local Garda station, have no direct or indirect contact with the complainant and surrender his passport.