Taxi driver charged with raping passenger in Co Kildare

A taxi driver has been charged with raping a passenger in Co Kildare last year.

The foreign national, with an address in Dublin, appeared at a special sitting of Naas District Court yesterday charged with raping a woman on September 9th.

The offence is contrary to section two of the Criminal Law Act, 1981, and the accused is legally entitled to anonymity unless he is convicted.

Garda Paul Carney from Leixlip Garda station told the court he arrested the man at Dublin Airport at 9pm on Saturday. The accused had travelled back to Ireland after a trip home, the court heard.

The man was detained, charged and cautioned. He replied “no comment”.

Garda Carney said he strongly objected to an application for bail. He said there were serious and imminent concerns that the accused would attempt to evade justice.

Solicitors for the man offered an independent surety of €5,000.

Judge Gráinne O’Neill refused bail and remanded the man in custody to appear before the court on Friday.