Man accused of raping women says he was ‘just trying to help them’.
A 20-year-old man who is accused of the rape of two women has told Gardaí he was ‘just trying to help them’.
Reporting on the case, journalist Tom Tuite recorded the man’s lengthy reply to the charge of rape as ““I didn’t do any of this to anyone; I just tried to help them and look at what happened. I unfortunately found myself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, in a house where alcohol is abused. I don’t understand why they want to harm me by alleging this. In their own statements, they said that I gave them alcohol; they decided to drink, to listen to music and have fun, and they are accusing me of things that I have not done. I should be suing them for this”.
Sitting at Dublin District Court Judge Shalom Binchy ordered the man – who was aided by an interpreter during the hearing – to surrender his national ID and to not apply for any other travel documents.
He was granted free legal aid and remanded on bail on condition that he sign on at a Garda station three times a week and have no contact with witnesses.
Man who caused thousands in damage to Letterkenny house found comatose by Gardaí
A man who caused €18,500 of damage to a house while on a cocktail of drink and drugs was found comatose after Gardaí entered the property, Donegal Daily reports.
41-year-old Joseph Colhoun who has 83 previous convictions appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a number of charges mostly related to the incident in which he caused damage to the house before assaulting Gardaí and medical staff.
The house at at An Clarach, Killyclug in Letterkenny was rented by Colhoun’s girlfriend at the time Nicole McEntaggart and extensive damage was caused to parts of it including the living room, carpets, bathroom, toilet, kitchen table and chair, bedrooms, bannisters, sanitary ware and wardrobes.
He was also charged in relation to the assault and coercive control of McEntaggart as well as the assault of Gardaí and hospital staff as well as obstruction of a Garda.
Extensive flooding and damage to wiring was also caused adding up to the value of €18,500.
When Colhoun was taken to hospital after being found comatose after a Garda response unit managed to gain access to the house he attempted to kick a Garda and head butt another.
He also spat at nurses at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The court heard that Colhoun has had a tragic life with his brother and father dying in tragic circumstances while his mother has also passed away.
Judge John Aylar reserved judgement until Wednesday 19th of June.
Man accused of assault and producing a knife in Laois
A 38-year-old man has appeared before Portlaoise District Court charged in relation to the assault of a man and woman in Laois.
The Leinster Express reported that “Radu Stanescu (38) of 7 Garden Green, The Garden Village, Portlaoise is accused of assaulting a man causing harm and having a knife at The Rock, Mountmellick on May 30, 2024. He is further accused of assaulting a woman causing harm at the Portlaoise Road, Mountrath on the same date.“
Stanescu is also alleged to have been in possession of cannabis believed to be for personal use.
He was remanded in custody to appear via video link before Portlaoise District Court on the 17th of June.
Man accused of targeting supermarkets across Ireland for shoplifting.
A Romanian man was brought before Kenmare District Court on 17 different charges relating to alleged thefts from supermarkets Kerry, Cork, Monaghan, Tipperary, and Longford.
All of the offences are alleged to have taken place over the past few weeks.
The Irish Independent reported that 35-year-old Stefan Marin who has an address at Dorset Street, Dublin 1 is accused of using a foil lined rucksack and stealing a bottle of champagne worth over 400 euro from a Spar in Dingle.
He is also charged with stealing a bottle of 21-year-old Redbreast Whiskey from Centra on Main Street, Dingle which was worth 260 euro.
He is also accused of assaulting a Garda while resisting arrest and the further theft of more whiskey and more Möet champaign.
Judge David Waters refused bail in respect of Marin who was remanded in custody to appear before Tralee District Court while instructions from the DPP are awaited.
Former scout master (78) jailed for sexual abuse of 5 boys jailed.
Noel Sheehan of Chimneyfields, Glenville, Co Cork was jailed this week after being convicted on 16 of 17 counts of indecently assaulting young boys.
Sheehan was found guilty earlier this year at Cork Circuit Court with the case against him being taken in respect of five victims of abuse.
The offences took place between 1987 and 1990 when the victims were aged between 10 and 13 years at a scout hall at Old Schoolhouse, Chimneyfields, Glenville, Mount Melleray, Co Waterford and one at Drishane Castle in Millstreet, Co Cork.
One of the victims said how Sheehan had put his hand on the then boy’s penis saying he was ‘playing a game’. The victim said Sheehan was white in the face and closed his eyes while he touched him.
Another said that the abuse had caused him to turn to alcohol at the age of 13 with another saying the abuse had led him down a path of committing crimes in order to try and escape what had happened.
A fourth victim said he had struggled with anger and had been unable to maintain a good relationship with his parents. He also said that his wife wanted a child but that he felt unable to protect a child were she to have one.
RTÉ reported that Sheehan, who had denied all the charges, “refused to accept the jury’s verdicts and express any remorse at his sentencing hearing,”.
Sentencing Judge Helen Boyle said the offences were at the mid-range of the scale and jailed Sheehan to four-and-a-half years in prison, with the final six months suspended if he keeps the peace for 12 months on his release.
She noted the betrayal of trust and the significant age gap between the five victims and their abuser saying that the abuse had had a significant impact on the children.