A crowd of around 150 people have gathered outside the courthouse in Athlone, carrying placards with child protection slogans.
It follows the alleged sexual assault of two young girls in a house in the town on Saturday afternoon.
A man remains in custody in connection with the incident.
Gardaí believe the six-year-old and nine-year-old girls were lured away from a birthday party by a man to a house where they were allegedly assaulted.
Both girls are being treated at University Hospital Galway.
A man in his 30s remains in Garda custody in connection with the incident, but there is no court appearance planned at present.
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