A man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at Chapel Hill, Fermoy on Monday afternoon. 

34-year-old Kamil Szymczak, with an address in Fermoy, appeared before Mallow District Court this morning.

Detective Garda David Forsythe gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and said that Mr Szymczak - who is originally from Poland - made no reply.

The accused was accompanied by a Polish translator and the court heard he is seeing a psychiatrist and doctor for drug and alcohol issues.

Defence solicitor, Ciaran O'Keeffe, asked Detective Garda Forsythe whether the matter could be described as a “stupid incident” and “at the lower end of the scale”.

Detective Garda Forsythe said he could not answer.

Judge Gabbett said he couldn’t see how the incident could not be seen as serious.

He said it is alleged that a man went up behind a juvenile and tried to forcibly remove her undergarments.

Judge Gabbett noted the Garda objections and refused bail.

Mr Szymczak was remanded in custody to appear again via videolink next Tuesday, February 15th for the DPP’s directions.

Reporting from Cork’s 96FM & C103 News Reporter Mairead Twohig at Mallow District Court