A 39-year-old man has been charged with the rape of a woman in west Cork after a terrifying early-morning ordeal in Fermoy.
Shocking Snapchat SOS
The victim was out at a social event in Fermoy on the night of 18 November, leaving a nightclub around 2am. Just 30 minutes later, she made a frantic call to a friend, shouting for help before the call suddenly cut off. Moments after, the woman sent a desperate Snapchat message begging for help.
Her friends searched the town but couldn’t locate her. At 5am, they alerted gardai, who launched a full-scale search.
Found in Derelict Building, Hypothermic and Injured
Gardai traced the Snapchat message to the Castlehyde area and found the woman around 8am in a derelict property. She was conscious but unresponsive, covered in cuts from presumably running through brambles, and hypothermic. Too weak to explain how she got there, she was quickly rushed to Cork University Hospital for emergency treatment.
Detective Sergeant Danny Holland said it was “fortunate” she was found “when she was” due to serious concerns for her health.
Key CCTV and Car Lead to Arrest
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from Fermoy and spotted the victim getting into the back of a car. They secured a partial registration, along with the vehicle’s make and model, helping them track it to an address in Munster.
A man was arrested and taken to Fermoy Garda Station for questioning. He admitted to picking up the woman, claiming she fell asleep and that he was unable to wake her.
Man Remanded, Next Court Date Set
The accused did not respond to the charge when it was read to him at Bandon District Court in west Cork. Judge Colm Roberts remanded him in custody. He is due back in court in Fermoy next Friday.
