Trial date for Donegal man charged with rape may not now take place until next year

A trial date for a Donegal man charged with rape may not now take place until March or April next year.

Kieran Lynch (59) of Carrickmore, St Johnston in County Donegal appeared facing one count of rape that was said to have occurred on December 31, 2023.

When the charge was put to him Lynch pleaded not guilty. 

Defence counsel Eoghan Devlin said that the defendant would be maintaining that anything happened was consensual.

The court heard that the trial was expected to last up to four days and a provisional trial date would be well into next year. 

The case will be reviewed on December 2 and the defendant was released on continuing bail.