Five teens have been charged after allegedly 'lining up' to have sex with a 15-year-old girl at a house party.

The charges relate to an incident at the girl's home address in Rathfarnham, Dublin, in March 2014.

Judge Patricia McNamara heard that it will be alleged during proceedings, that before she had sex with the fourth man she heard a voice outside her bedroom say: "Line up guys."

The group, all with addresses in Rathfarnham, were charged for the defilement of a named female child under the age of 17 contrary to Section 3 (1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2006.

A garda told the court that it will be alleged that on March 14, 2014 the injured party, who was 15 years of age at the time, left her home at 7pm and a bottle of vodka was purchased for her in a local shop.

The garda said the girl drank the bottle and friends brought her home at 8.30pm as she was drunk.

He said it will be alleged that an impromptu house party occurred at the house and the five males had sex with her.

Scared

The garda said that the injured party alleges that each of the males had pulled down her leggings and underwear.

It is alleged that they had sex with her individually, that she could not "physically say no" and that she was scared.

Three of the accused men involved are aged 16, while the other two are aged 17 and 18.

In relation to the three 16-year-olds, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed summary disposal which will see the case dealt with in the District Court.

Summary disposal has also been ordered for the 17- and 18-year-olds, but only on a plea of guilty, the court also heard.

Eddie O'Connor, a solicitor acting on behalf of the 17-year-old male, asked Judge McNamara to accept jurisdiction.

A solicitor for one of the 16-year-old defendants also made the same request.

In relation to the four minors, the judge has not yet decided on jurisdiction.

Judge McNamara told the juvenille sitting of Tallaght District court that it was too serious a case to consider jurisdiction straight away.

She said she would consider it in each case and put the case back for a month for her decision.

The solicitor acting on behalf of the 18-year-old said that some 18 pieces of disclosure had not been received.

Judge McNamara remanded the 18-year-old on continuing bail to the same date for disclosure.

If the defendants are found guilty in the District Court, they face prison for up to one year.

However, anyone found guilty of the charges in the Circuit Criminal Court who is found guilty by a jury faces a prison term of up to five years.

Irish Independent