A man charged with raping two children in Athlone has appeared in court and been remanded in custody.

The 30-year-old man is originally from Co. Galway and has not been named. He remained silent during the sitting of Harristown District Court in Co. Roscommon.

He is charged with the double rape of each of two girls aged 6 and 9 at an address in Athlone on September 28th.

The man has been remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison and will appear in court again on November 8th.

He requested a transfer to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin a fortnight ago, but the judge said that he did not have jurisdiction to order a transfer as it was an internal matter for the Prison Service.

He has been charged with four counts of rape.