Bishop Street courthouse in Derry
Emmett Deehan, of no fixed abode, appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday via videolink from Strand Road PSNI station over the physical and sexual attack on a woman.
Police previously said the victim was pulled into an alleyway and repeatedly hit in the face in the Lecky Road area of Creggan.
The incident happened at around 1.15 am on Sunday.
A detective constable told District Judge Barney McElhom he could connect the 32-year-old to the charges of sexual assault by digital penetration and grievous bodily harm.
The court was told by Deehan’s solicitor that his client denies both charges.
“He has been interviewed over the last couple of days,” said the solicitor.
“The primary evidence in the case is doorbell CCTV footage.
“Mr. Deehan denies being the person on the video responsible for this attack.
“Forensic evidence will be paramount in terms of being persuasive in terms of his guilt or innocence.”
The defendantspoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him.
The solicitor said “it would be naive for Mr Deehan to apply for bail at an address in the city” and confirmed no application was being made.
District Judge Barney McElholm explained that the accused can apply for bail at any stage if a suitable address becomes available before remanding Mr Deehan into custody.
The defendant is due to appear before the court again via videolink on November 21.
Police previously said the victim, aged in her 50s, sustained “serious facial and other injuries as a result of this terrifying ordeal that she was only able to escape from after her attacker let her go” before she raised the alarm.
“The woman required hospital treatment for her injuries,” they added.
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