Fugitive rapist remanded in custody
A rapist on the run from police in the North has been remanded in custody today.
Edward Connors (aged 19) appeared at Dublin District Court charged with failing to notify gardaí of his whereabouts after he was found hiding out in the city.
He was arrested in Ballyfermot last night under sex offender laws.
Connors had been on the run for more than a week after failing to attend a court hearing in Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has indicated it will be seeking his extradition.
The brief District Court hearing was told that Connors was detained at a home in Labre Park in Ballyfermot at about 10pm last night.
He appeared in court under Section 12 of the Sex Offenders Act. Under the law he had seven days to notify gardaí that he had entered the jurisdiction and give a permanent address.
Judge Victor Blake remanded Connors in custody at Cloverhill until August 1, when he will appear in court again and have an opportunity to apply for bail.
No application was made for bail at today’s hearing and he was granted legal aid.
Connors was 15 years old when he raped an American tourist in Colin Glen forest in west Belfast four years ago. Afterwards he fled to Dublin but later gave himself up. He was jailed for eight years.
A warrant for his arrest was issued last week.
He had been due at Belfast Magistrates’ Court to face a charge of breaching one of his probation conditions by failing to complete an individual programme of work to address his sexual offending.
