Man pleads guilty to rape

A MAN in his twenties has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Castlebar, this afternoon (Tuesday) to raping a woman at Tucker Street, Castlebar, on November 16, 2015.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear for sentencing at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Dublin, in two weeks' time.

Following his plea of guilty this afternoon, Judge Paul Butler remanded the accused on continuing bail to May 29.

A victim impact statement will be read to the court at the sentencing hearing.

Mr. John Jordan, senior counsel, representing the State, asked today that the accused, following his guilty plea, be placed on a sex offenders' list.

The sentencing hearing on May 29 is expected to last approximately one hour, Judge Butler was told.