An illegal immigrant from Brazil, who was working for Deliveroo, has been denied bail after he was charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl on the 15th of February last.
The man, who cannot be named because the alleged victim is a child, came to Ireland from the UK two years ago and has no status in this jurisdiction, Judge Michele Finan heard.
Prosecuting Garda Grainne Raggett gave evidence that the accused is 27 years old, and that he was found in possession of a Portuguese driver’s license which belonged to a deceased individual.
Garda Raggett told the court that the alleged assault took place in a laneway when the girl and her friend were playing outside at approximately 2 pm. The accused allegedly approached the child, asking her if he “could do something” before he pulled down her trousers and underwear.
The child, who was interviewed by specialist officers from the Divisional Protective Services Unit, said that the man used his hands to touch her belly button, lower than her belly button, that he touched her hips with his hands, and touched her skin, which was close to her private parts, which were exposed.
She said that he was kneeling at eye level with her and said that he used two fingers to touch the skin near her genitals.
The child said that the accused told her he was “done” and said “goodbye” before he left the scene on his delivery bike.
After the alleged assault, the child ran home and told her father, who brought her to their local Garda station.
The court heard that Gardaí searched the address of the accused in Santry, Dublin 3, after he was tracked down using CCTV and Deliveroo provided tracking information.
Garda Raggett said that other children in the area had been allegedly subjected to suspicious approaches on the 13th and 17th of February. One of the girls screamed and ran off while the other said that a man tried to grab her hand, the court heard.
She also said that further charges may be brought in respect of the accused, who has since lost his delivery job.
Deliveroo tracking placed the accused in the area of both incidents.
The court heard that the accused admitted to encountering the alleged eight-year-old victim, but that he denies having sexually assaulted her.
Garda Raggett said that she was opposing bail on the basis that the accused jas no ties to the state, that it is believed that he has access to false documents, and the seriousness of the charge.
Ciara Murray BL, defending, said that Gardaí had made “quite significant investigative steps to date”, but insisted that her client was entitled to the presumption of innocence when arguing that he be admitted to bail.
She said that he has no previous convictions and that he had been very cooperative with Gardaí.
Ms Murray argued that the “CCTV places him in the vicinity” of the alleged assault, but that he has “made his life here in Ireland” and has never come to Garda attention in the two years he has been here, albeit illegally.
Judge Finan said that Garda Raggett’s objections were “very comprehensive” and that, although the court had taken into consideration Ms Murray’s arguments, it was not minded to grant bail today.
The accused, who was aided by a Portuguese interpreterwas remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court this day next week. He was granted legal aid.