Man accused of raping deaf pregnant woman 'fortunate to get bail' at Limerick court

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A MAN who is accused of raping a deaf pregnant woman and sexually assaulting a teenager has been granted bail at Limerick District Court.

The man, who is aged in his 40s and can’t be named to protect the identities of the alleged victims, appeared before Judge Darach MCCarthy to make a bail application.

Opposing this, Garda Orla Ryan outlined to the court that this suspect is accused of six count of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of sexual assault over the course of a number of years.

There are two complainants in the case, which are being investigated separately. They are not known to each other but both are known to the accused man.

Facing eight charges in total, he was arrested earlier this month.

Judge McCarthy heard that after being charged with seven of the alleged offences, the defendant replied: “Not true.”

The first alleged victim, who is deaf, made her report to the guards via a sign language interpreter in 2025.

She told authorities that over the course of under 10 years, she was raped and sexually assaulted by the accused man numerous times.

The complainant’s allegations included that she was orally raped in a vehicle as the suspect was driving. It was heard that a passer-by was in close proximity and so, allegedly held her head down.

In a separate complaint some time later, the woman claimed she was raped on a bed in the sitting room of a property and that two people witnessed this.

Judge McCarthy was informed that in this same property on another date, the man raped the alleged victim in the hallway and stairwell. A number of people were said to have observed this.

Garda Ryan outlined that in the complainant’s statement, she said that she and the accused man were in a car. It is alleged that he pulled in on the side of a road and refused to drive until she agreed to have sex with him. It was heard that she is afraid of the dark, and because she relies on her senses due to being deaf, she reluctantly took part in the act.

As well as this, the woman accused the man of raping her in a restroom after she had a shower, despite telling him “no.”

During the course of these alleged offences, it was stated that in a public area while on a walk with several people, the defendant led the complainant away and demanded sex. She was pregnant at this time and refused. The woman told gardai that the suspect claimed that if she did not have sex with him, he would walk back to the group of people with his erection on display. She alleges he then raped her.

On the day of her child’s birthday, as people were present in a house to mark the occasion, the suspect was said to have led the woman upstairs, saying, “let me have a feel” before raping the alleged victim.

It was Garda Orla Ryan’s view that the statement made to gardai demonstrates a “sexually abusive and controlling” man, who could face life imprisonment if convicted of these offences.

Limerick District Court heard that phone evidence corroborates some of these allegations.

In a separate alleged incident years later, the accused man is charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. He did make some admissions in relation to this offence during a detention period.

Judge Darach McCarthy was informed that the man is accused of touching the teenager’s vagina with his fingers.

It was heard that the defendant said he “made a mistake” on the night in question as he believed the young girl was someone else.

The teenager disclosed to her school what had happened and it was heard that the man, who is now before the courts regarding this matter, asked her not to tell anyone.

The Limerick resident has three children, none of whom have contact with him. A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in regards to the charges. He is working and lives with a housemate.

The accused’s solicitor put to the court that his client remains consistent in denying all rape and sexual assault allegations which the first complainant has made.

In terms of the second alleged victim, the solicitor said the defendant’s account is “somewhat corroborated" by another party, who was present at the time of the alleged sexual assault.

As well as this, it was heard that after the most recent garda report made against him, the accused was involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric unit.

In a submission, the man’s solicitor said the defendant will abide by strict bail conditions and there was no evidence he would potentially flee the jurisdiction.

After hearing facts of the allegations, Judge Darach McCarthy decided to grant the accused man bail.

The judge said he must be of good behaviour, sign on daily at a garda station and not commit any offences.

The defendant was not subject to a curfew.

In his bail bond, he was told not to have any contact with the alleged victims and have his phone on him at all times.

Judge McCarthy told the accused man that he is “fortunate to get bail” considering the seriousness of the charges against him.

He was subject to an own bond of €2,000, with a lodgement of €500 to be provided to the courts. A surety is also required in this case, who will have to lodge €1,000 to secure the man’s release.

The man, who is accused of six counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of sexual assault over the course of a number of years is now in custody with consent to bail, pending the approval of the surety by the courts.

He will next appear before Limerick District Court on a date in November.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.