Detectives are awaiting forensic analysis in the case of a man charged with the violent rape and sexual assault of a young woman in Letterkenny.
The accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to the nature of the charges and in order to protect the identity of the victim, appeared before Letterkenny District Court via video link from Midlands Prison, where he is being held.
The victim, a young woman who was not known to the accused, was left with what were described as “horrendous” and “brutal” injuries in the attack which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, October 20, 2024 at a location just off Lower Main Street.
The man has been charged with a count of the rape of a woman, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.
He has also been charged with assault causing harm, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
Garda Sergeant Gerard Dalton told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that he was seeking a further remand.
Sergeant Dalton said the file was almost completed and Gardai are awaiting a report from Forensic Science Ireland on the matter. Following the receipt of this report, a file will be ready to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Oral directions have been given, but Gardai are awaiting formal directions from the DPP.
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Patrick J Sweeney, said his client has been in custody since October 24.
Detective Garda Lorna Doherty told a previous special court siting in Letterkenny that the woman suffered a “violent sexual assault and rape”. She said the attack was on a woman who was unknown to the man.
Detectives conducted door-to-door enquiries and witnesses told of hearing a woman scream.
The defendant was later arrested by gardai. During a swoop of the suspect’s address, gardai found items of clothing heavily stained in blood.
An application for bail for the accused was previously turned down by Judge Cunningham.
The matter has now been adjourned until December 16.