Two Jordanian men denied bail over rape of 18-year-old in Galway station car park

Two men charged with raping an 18-year-old woman at Galway's Ceannt Railway Station have been refused bail. A High Court judge ruled both men are a flight risk.

Bail refused after alleged rape at Ceannt Station car park in Galway

Two Jordanian men charged with raping an 18-year-old woman in a car at Galway's Ceannt Railway Station have been refused bail at the High Court, the Irish Times reports.

The men, aged 27 and 25, who cannot be named for legal reasons, face charges of vaginal rape and false imprisonment of the alleged victim. The incident is said to have occurred shortly after 2am on 1 August 2025. The older defendant carries an additional charge of forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him at the same location.

Both men appeared via video link, seated side by side, with an Arabic interpreter present for the hearing.

Judge Caroline Biggs heard that the woman had become separated from her friends in the city. The two defendants offered to help her reach her nearby accommodation. Instead, it is alleged, they brought her to a car in the railway station car park, where she was raped while repeatedly saying no. She is alleged to have attempted to leave the vehicle, but the door was locked and she tried to resist.

Detective Sergeant Trevor Shannon objected to bail on the grounds that both men posed a flight risk. Judge Biggs agreed, ruling that the defendants were likely to flee the jurisdiction if released.

The complainant attended a sexual assault treatment unit, where a forensic examiner recorded several injuries, including bruising to the middle of her throat, a recent abrasion to her right elbow, a distinct circular bruise to her upper thigh, and bleeding to the upper cervix. She reported the incident on 3 April.

The 27-year-old has no family ties in Ireland, with all relatives residing in Jordan. When interviewed by gardaí, he said: "I can't believe she remembers this; she was so drunk." He denied the oral sex charge. The younger defendant acknowledged sexual intercourse had taken place. He has family in Ireland, and relatives offered a bail surety of €1,000.

During the investigation, gardaí attempted to find solicitors to advise the men and attend their interviews, but none were available owing to the ongoing strike over legal aid reforms.

Earlier this week, proceedings in Galway District Court were adjourned until 21 September, pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Source: Irish Times