Man accused of rape and coercive control in Laois

A man appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of rape, assault and coercive control. 

The man, who is 40, is accused of assaulting a woman causing harm on a date between January 1 and April 30, 2010, and between April 1 and April 30, 2010 and between July 1 and July 31, 2010. He is accused of assault causing harm to the woman on May  23, 2010. 

He is charged with assault causing harm between February 14 and 28, 2011 and between June 1 and June 30, 2013. He is further accused of assault on June 12, 2016 and on October 24, 2020. He is also charged with criminal damage between February 14 and June 30, 2011.  

He is charged with rape on April 30, 2016 and on a date between February 1 and March 31, 2015 and on a date between July 1 and December 31, 2016. He is also charged with coercive control between January 1 and January 30, 2019.  The offences are alleged to have occurred in Laois. 

A detective said the defendant made no reply when the 12 charges were put to him. 

“The DPP has directed to prosecute on indictment to the Central Criminal Court,” she said.

There was no objection to bail subject to a number of conditions which included that the defendant reside at a specified address, have no contact directly or indirectly with the alleged injured party, provide a mobile number where he can be contacted, be of good behaviour, sign on once a week at a garda station and surrender his passport. 

Judge Nicola Andrews remanded the defendant on bail subject to the conditions to appear again at Portlaoise District Court for service of the book of evidence on April 22.