A 39-year-old man appeared in a west Cork court yesterday, charged with raping a woman in Castlehyde, Fermoy, on November 19. The accused stayed silent when the charge was read at 3am during a special sitting of the district court in Bandon.
Terrifying Night in Fermoy
Detective Sergeant Danny Holland told Judge Colm Roberts that the woman had attended a social event in Fermoy on the night of November 18. She left a nightclub around 2am, but by 2.30am she was desperately shouting for help in a phone call to a friend, which suddenly cut off.
Shortly after, she sent a Snapchat message pleading for help. Her friends frantically searched the town but couldn’t find her. By 5am, they alerted the Gardaí, who joined the hunt.
Found in a Derelict Cottage, Injured and Hypothermic
The Snapchat message was traced to Castlehyde. Gardaí found the woman around 8am in a derelict cottage. She had cuts on her arms—likely from running through brambles—and was conscious but unresponsive. Hypothermia left her unable to explain what happened.
Detective Sergant Holland said, “It was fortunate she was found when she was. We had serious concerns for her health and welfare.” The victim was rushed to Cork University Hospital for urgent treatment.
Car Tracked, Suspect Arrested
CCTV footage from Fermoy showed the woman getting into the back seat of a car. Gardaí identified a partial registration and tracked the vehicle to a Munster address. A 39-year-old man was arrested and held at Fermoy Garda Station.
The suspect claimed he picked up the woman, who fell asleep in the car, and said he unsuccessfully tried to wake her.
Man Remanded in Custody
Judge Roberts remanded the accused in custody. He is due back before the Fermoy district court next Friday.
