Man sent for trial over alleged rape, assault and coercive control in Laois
The man appeared before Portlaoise District Court
A man has been sent forward to the Central Criminal Court accused of rape, assault and coercive control in Laois.
The 40 year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was served with a book of evidence at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
He 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 further charged with assault causing harm between February 14 and 28, 2011 and between June 1 and June 30, 2013. He is accused of assault on June 12, 2016 and on October 24, 2020. He is also charged with criminal damage to a mobile phone between February 14 and June 30, 2011.
The man 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 November 30, 2019. The offences are all alleged to involve one injured party.
Garda Aisling O’Boyle said she had served a book of evidence on the accused.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the DPP had directed that the case should be sent forward to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court. He said there were 13 counts in the book of evidence, eight counts of assault, three counts of rape, one count of criminal damage and one count of coercive control.
Judge Nicola Andrews sent the accused forward to the current sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. She remanded him on bail and granted legal aid to Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald and two barristers.