A 27-year-old man has been before a special sitting of the District Court in Fermoy, Co Cork, charged in connection with the sexual assault of a woman who was out walking her dog in a park in the town over the weekend.
Vadim Veste, of Clancy Street, Fermoy, is charged with sexually assaulting the woman on Sunday 7 November in St Colman's Park, Fermoy.
The charge is contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law Rape Amendment Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offender Act 2000.
The Moldovan national, who also has Romanian citizenship, is also charged assault causing harm to the woman, contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Detective Garda David Barry. He said that Mr Veste made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution.
Gardaí objected to bail on the basis of the seriousness of the charges.
Det Gda Barry said that Mr Veste, is a married man with children.
Judge Alec Gabbatt was told that Mr Veste is employed in a meat factory in Co Cork, having moved to Ireland 11 months ago. He lives with his mother in Fermoy.
Det Gda Barry said a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, with the possibility of the defendant facing further, more serious, charges.
He stated that the woman was sexually assaulted while out walking last Sunday evening at 6.40pm.
Mr Veste was arrested in Fermoy on Tuesday.
Det Gda Barry stated that the victim was traumatised and needed medical attention following the attack. She is finding it hard to sleep since she was assaulted last weekend.
Defence solicitor Daithi Ó Donnabhain said that his client's passport was in the possession of gardaí and that he did not pose a flight risk.
Judge Gabbett declined to grant bail in the case given the "nature and strength" of the evidence against the accused.
Mr Veste was remanded in custody to appear by video link before Cork District Court on 18 November next.
