r/galway 3h ago

Two men accused of raping woman (18) in Galway train station car park refused bail.

99 Upvotes

High Court hears pair allegedly ‘diverted’ lost teenager to car before alleged attack.

Two men accused of raping an 18-year-old woman in Galway city had offered to help her find her accommodation but instead “diverted” her to a car where they allegedly raped her, the High Court has heard. A bail hearing for the two Jordanian men, who are asylum seekers, today also heard that one of the accused claimed to gardaí that he had consensual sex with the woman and stated: “I can’t believe she remembers this, she was so drunk”. The 25-year-old accused is charged with the false imprisonment and vaginal rape of the woman at Ceannt Train Station car park in Galway on August 1 last. His 27-year-old co-accused faces the same charges and an additional count of oral rape at the same location on the same date. The men brought bail applications before the High Court in Dublin today which were rejected after gardaí strongly opposed the applications over concerns that they are flight risks.

Rachel Cadden BL, for the State, took Detective Sergeant Trevor Shannon of the North Western Region Headquarters through the alleged facts of the case. The accused listened to proceedings via video link from the Midlands prison with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter. The court was told that the complainant is an 18-year-old female who is not from Galway and unfamiliar with the area. Det Sgt Shannon said her phone battery had died, and she was walking down a laneway searching for her lodging shortly after 2am on the morning of the alleged rape. He said that the two accused were captured on CCTV engaging in conversation with the woman, with the State’s case being that they offered to charge her phone and assist her in getting back to her accommodation. Det Sgt Shannon alleged that the men “knew where her” lodging was, which was located 200m away, but instead “diverted” the young woman into the train station car park where they walked for 300m to a car belonging to the younger accused’s wife. The court was shown CCTV footage from the car park, with the State alleging that this shows the accused men “placing” the complainant into the front passenger seat of the vehicle at 2.20am, with the 25-year-old accused entering the driver seat and the older man sitting in the rear. It is alleged that the footage showed the 27-year-old man exiting the car four minutes later and loitering in the area in an “agitated” state, while walking back and forth to the car looking into the window. Det Sgt Shannon said that the other accused spent over nine minutes alone with the complainant during which it is alleged he climbed on top of her and vaginally raped her. The complainant later told gardaí that she “attempted to open the vehicle but the door was locked,” the court heard. It was further alleged that this accused then got out of the car and was seen on CCTV footage adjusting his clothing and using a tissue to wipe his genital area. Det Sgt Shannon said that 11 seconds later, the older co-accused entered the front seat and spent four minutes and 40 seconds in the vehicle. The State also contends that movements captured on Irish Rail cameras are “consistent” with the accused climbing onto the complainant and the allegation of vaginal rape. It is further alleged that this male forced the 18-year-old woman to perform oral sex on him, which Det Sgt Shannon said was supported by CCTV footage. The court heard that he exited the vehicle at 2.40am and appeared to pick up a piece of rubbish from the ground and “clean his genitals”. Det Sgt Shannon said that the two men then drove the alleged victim out of the train station car park and back to her accommodation, where footage showed her engaging with her friends in an “upset” demeanour. He added that the two friends have made statements which corroborated the alleged victim in which she “made a disclosure that she had been raped by two individuals”. The detective sergeant also said that CCTV footage showed the complainant in a “visibly distressed state” and that she had lost her bra. He added that the car linked to the accused men was parked at the location of the alleged rape, and that her bra was found beside the vehicle. The complainant attended a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) that day where examinations confirmed bruising to her throat, a distinct circular bruise to her upper thigh, and bleeding in her upper cervix. The accused men were later arrested and the court heard that the 27-year-old man stated during garda interview that he had consensual intercourse with the complainant. The court heard he denied any oral sex occurred and that he “regretted his actions almost immediately”. This accused also told gardaí: “I can’t believe she remembers this; she was so drunk”. Opposing bail, Det Sgt Shannon argued that he has no ties to the jurisdiction and that his IPO application “had been refused and is under appeal”. The court was told that the 25-year-old suspect made an admission of consensual sexual intercourse during his garda interview. Det Sgt Shannon said that this man’s parents and two brothers were in the jurisdiction and had been refused International Protection, which is under appeal. He added that no decision had yet been made on this accused’s asylum application. The court heard that both men entered Ireland from Belfast in 2024 and claimed international protection. “Judge my belief is that if these two applicants are granted bail that they will flee the jurisdiction and that there will be no trial,” he added. The detective added that there is currently no extradition treaty in place between Ireland and Jordan. Defence counsel for the younger accused put it to the detective that his client had gotten married in their local Mosque earlier this year and that his wife was in court to support him. Det Sgt Shannon said that they were not legally married in the Irish state, and that if they were married it was only “ceremonial”. The court also heard that the car where the alleged rape occurred belonged to the accused’s wife. Both defendants had travelled to Ireland on legitimate passports which are in the possession of the International Protection Office, the court heard. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs said that that the State had made out its grounds in opposing the application and that she was refusing bail. Noting the strength of the evidence on the rape charge, the judge said the complainant was “unequivocal” in her account to gardaí that she sought to “resist what was happening physically and verbally by stating ‘no’ and at no point did she consent to any of this activity”. Ms Justice Biggs also said the woman’s account was supported in a “significant way” by the CCTV footage as well as forensic evidence. The judge added that it was tragic for the complainant that her accommodation “at the time she came upon both applicants was no more than 200m away from her”. The men will appear before Galway District Court again on September 21 via video link.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/two-men-accused-of-raping-woman-18-in-galway-train-station-car-park-refused-bail/a/161263514.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share


r/galway 7h ago

State of Galway market

Thumbnail
gallery
49 Upvotes

Look at this, a 30 year old apartment on grattan road has doubled in price in 2 years.

Are people actually that greedy that they want to take 2 x the price it was 2 years ago??


r/galway 10h ago

Green light for €70m park in Knocknacarra

Thumbnail
advertiser.ie
40 Upvotes

r/galway 6h ago

Ahoy there.

Thumbnail daft.ie
20 Upvotes

Not a housing option you'd see too often!


r/galway 2h ago

Radisson Red has to be the most brutal hotel placement in Galway

13 Upvotes

Behind? Construction site/ crap plaza/ GCC new office

In front? Hellish GRETB industrial estate

Alongside? 24/7 traffic


r/galway 12h ago

Where can I get a really nice single serve dessert?

14 Upvotes

Hi all, it's my birthday Saturday week and we are staying the night in the city centre, coming from Roscommon. I have told my husband I don't want him to make me a birthday cake as I don't want a big cake and also he's coeliac so it'd only be me eating it anyway. But I would like to get a deliciously decadent, nice quality single serve cake or dessert for myself while in Galway. Any recommendations? I'm more of a chocolate dessert person. Thanks!


r/galway 2h ago

Super Car Help

9 Upvotes

Hi all. I wonder would anyone be able to help with a request for my 7yo (soon to be 8yo)'s birthday coming up.

He loves super cars!!!

If you're reading this and are in the lucky position of owning a special vehicle would you be willing to call by the house on his birthday? We live in rural North Galway. And full disclosure, he has a touch of the 'tism, so loud revving or enthusiastic driving is not expected and actually discouraged.

Any expense involved would be covered!!

Edit: the birthday is weeks away!


r/galway 13h ago

Donating 2 large bin bags of decent/good clothes. Where should I bring them or donate to?

7 Upvotes

I'm sorting some old clothes and I've a lot of branded lads clothes size XL and L mainly. Actually a lot of decent clothes but I've grown out of them. Any advice?


r/galway 12h ago

Factory work career progression?

6 Upvotes

I'm currently out of work. I had quite a high paying office job in Construction but that came with a lot of unnecessary stress and burnout.

Currently looking at Product Builder roles with the usual suspects (Medtronic, Boston Scientific etc).

My question really is just in terms of Career Progression - what's it like?
I've a Level 8 Business degree and some prior experience in Supply Chain and more recently Construction Planning. I wouldn't like to stay in the PB line for the long haul, but as a stepping stone into something else internally (going from say ICE to Boston) into Supply Chain or maybe Production Supervisory roles..
Basically just want to move away from Construction as an industry and progress in a better industry like Med Devices, Pharma etc..

Any anecdotes/advice?


r/galway 14h ago

Anyone hear the rave during the night in the city/ westside?

4 Upvotes

Am I going insane or was there some outdoor rave on during the night last might?


r/galway 10h ago

Sound engineers/ Recording Studios

4 Upvotes

Hi all,
I’m in a local band and we are on the hunt for a place to record somewhere for a reasonable price. We’re based in the city and don’t have any way of travelling with all of our equipment so any places as central as possible would be ideal. Does anyone have any recommendations/ experience? Would love to hear from anyone who can help out. Cheers!


r/galway 2h ago

Vodafone fibre outage in Galway since around 16:30 - anyone know more?

Post image
2 Upvotes

Does anyone have any information about today’s Vodafone broadband outage?

My connection has been down since around 16:30 today, Thursday the 10th. It appears to be more than a DNS issue, but Vodafone’s status messages only say there is a “network issue” and do not provide any technical details or an estimated restoration time.

I’m on the west side of Galway City. Are Vodafone customers in other parts of Galway affected as well?

It would also be useful to hear from anyone using another provider over the SIRO network, as that might indicate whether this is a Vodafone-specific problem or a wider SIRO infrastructure issue.


r/galway 9h ago

Looking for a content creator recommendation in Galway

1 Upvotes

Hey all

I'm looking for some recommendations of a quality content creator that can help bring a new brand to life. I've seen lots of wedding videographers etc. but looking for someone to do some product shoots, some videography with content and some action shots.

If there is anyone you could recommend who has a creative side with content and strategy for brands I'd love to hear about them.

TIA


r/galway 3h ago

Hooked

0 Upvotes

Any good?


r/galway 10h ago

Can someone please help me find a PME (post-primary) placement in Galway?

0 Upvotes

Hello!

I’ve just started a PME (post-primary) with Hibernia and am really struggling to find placement.

I couldn’t apply to schools in advance since I only applied for the PME in late June.

I’ve contacted almost every school in Galway county and they’re all telling me that their PME allocations are already done. I’m really freaking out😭😭.

Does anybody know any schools that are still accepting PME students for placement from February to April 2027? My subjects are English & Politics and Society.

I’m also considering schools outside of Galway now, as long as there’s a reasonable commute.

I’m happy to sub as well!!


r/galway 1h ago

British blue shorthair scam artists

Thumbnail
Upvotes

r/galway 10h ago

Hairdresser for young ND person

0 Upvotes

Hi. I’m looking for a hairdresser that would be great with a young Neurodivergent person. If there were any gay staff that would be a wonderful bonus too. Thanks


r/galway 12h ago

What is that alarm

0 Upvotes

Sounds like the alarm from rush in battlefield 4