A failed asylum seeker gave Gardaí six different names, five different dates of birth, two different countries of origin, and a number of different addresses, including two IPAS centres, when he was arrested after allegedly interfering in a Garda search of his person.
The man, who was aided by an Arabic interpreter, appeared before Dublin District Court this morning charged with obstruction contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Garda Oisín O’Toole gave evidence of how he arrested the accused on Buckingham Street Lower, Dublin 1 just after 4pm yesterday after the man allegedly refused to submit to a drug search.
The failed asylum seeker, who claimed to be from Palestine, was charged at Store Street Garda Station and made no reply.
He was refused station bail as Gardaí were not satisfied with his identity after he “over the course of yesterday evening” provided them with 6 different names, 5 different dates of birth, and several different addresses.
An Arabic interpreter was contacted by officers at Store Street, however the accused “refused to answer basic questions”.
After giving a number of different names while in custody, the man, who claimed to be Jordanian during the course of the court hearing, was asked to write his name in Arabic for the interpreter to translate.
This revealed yet another name, the court heard.
Garda O’Toole said that the accused had in his possession a manual handling certificate in further name.
He also had a Public Services card made out to a similar name with different spelling for the forename, and where the surname was one word instead of two.
The accused also claimed that he had a room in Dublin 1 and “two rooms” elsewhere.
Gardaí ran all of the names and dates of birth through the PULSE system, but did not find any matches, Garda O’Toole said.
The accused’s defending counsel argued that his client is a “failed” asylum seeker who previously lived “for a number of months” at an IPAS centre in Mullingar.
He has since spent “five months” at another IPAS centre in Arklow, the court heard.
The man “panicked” when he was approached by the Gardaí because he was appealing the refusal of his international protection claim, his counsel argued, saying “there doesn’t seem to be a darker or nefarious” reason.
Judge John Brennan said that although the Gardaí “made every effort” to establish the identity of the accused, he had “deceived” them.
He said that the court was “not satisfied” that he could be remanded on bail and set the case back to next Thursday to “allow everyone to get their ducks in order”.
“If he’s from Amman in Jordan he could be of Palestinian origin,” Judge Brennan remarked.