Man, 68, charged over 2003 rapes of woman by intruder posing as TV technician

Mixed · 2A 68-year-old man based in Dublin has been charged over the rape of a woman in her own home in south Dublin in 2003, and appeared before Dublin District Court on Thursday 8 October 2026. 1 2 Left · 1He is charged with two counts of rape, one count of false imprisonment and one count of aggravated burglary, all arising from an attack on a woman, then in her 30s, in a housing estate in south Dublin in March 2003. 1 Left · 1The Irish Times reports that the attacker is alleged to have posed as a TV technician investigating faults in the area; the attack took place on the morning of 31 March 2003 and the victim was sexually attacked in an ordeal that lasted a long time. 1

Left · 1The man was arrested on Wednesday and detained for questioning. Det Insp Trevor Scanlon of the Protective Services Unit at Dundrum Garda Station told the court that when he was charged and cautioned at 3.50pm, the man replied "not guilty" to each of the four charges. 1 Left · 1The accused cannot be named under court rules covering sexual crime cases. Before Judge Michelle Finan he spoke only to say "thank you, judge", and he was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison. 1 Left · 1His solicitor, Andrew Vallely, said the man was reserving his right to apply for bail, with an application expected as early as Monday, and a statement of means was requested in connection with a free legal aid application; the next appearance is in Dún Laoghaire on Monday 12 October. 1

Left · 1Gardaí said an extensive investigation in 2003 involved "hundreds of investigative jobs undertaken and over 100 statements taken", and that the case stayed open for more than 23 years. 1 Left · 1In 2023 a new team attached to the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region East Serious Crime Unit began a peer review of the inquiry, and its work led to the arrest. The State alleges the accused was the attacker, though no findings have been reached; he would have been about 45 at the time. 1