Man (22) appears in Cork court charged with false imprisonment of woman in Listowel

A 22-year-old man charged with falsely imprisoning a 20-year-old woman in Listowel and endangering her life was remanded in custody today.

Detective Garda Shane O’Driscoll arrested Muhammed Ahsan and charged him with four counts. To each one, the defendant replied ‘No’, when cautioned.

The false imprisonment charge refers to a named woman at Clieveragh Road, outside Listowel in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, and the charge was brought contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

The endangerment charges states that on September 28 at Clieveragh Road he intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct while driving a car with the front passenger door open, namely that he merged onto the main road in the knowledge that the passenger was hanging out of the vehicle, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to the young woman.

In the course of his evidence, Det Garda O’Driscoll applied for an amendment to the endangerment charge to remove earlier wording which had alleged that he “pushed (the woman) out of the car while it was in motion”. This latter wording was removed and replaced with the words, “in the knowledge that the passenger was hanging out of the vehicle”.

Muhammed Ahsan was also charged with stealing the woman’s iPhone and dangerous driving.

The case came before Cork District Court as no judge was sitting in Kerry today. 

Judge Mary Dorgan said this had to be specified in order for her to have jurisdiction to deal with the matter.

Brendan Ahern, solicitor, said he was not applying for bail. An Urdu interpreter was sworn in to assist the defendant, who is from Pakistan. Mr Ahern said the interpreter was present as a precautionary measure only, as the accused had good English.

Mr Ahern asked for the case to be adjourned until Thursday October 2 at Listowel District Court when there will be a bail application.

Judge Dorgan remanded Muhammed Ahsan in custody until then.

Judge Dorgan said the young woman should not be named in coverage of the case.

Mr Ahern asked for the Kerry address of the accused not to be identified. Judge Dorgan asked for the basis of this application. The solicitor said the defendant’s wife and two young children live at that address and “there would be concerns about their safety”.

Judge Dorgan said she would prohibit publication of the defendant’s address. She explained, “In those circumstances to protect his infant children and wife there should be no identification of his address in the context of what is outlined in court.

In earlier coverage of the investigation it was reported that the alleged incidents occurred on Clieveragh Road on the outskirts of Listowel town centre at approximately 3.20am on September 28.

Gardaí also issued an appeal for any witnesses to the incident, particularly any road users with camera footage, who were in the area between Listowel town centre and the R552 Clieveragh Rd between 2am and 4am.

Investigating gardaí also say they are particularly interested in the movements of a white Audi A4 saloon car during this period.

Anyone with any information should contact Listowel Garda Station on 068 50820, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111, or any garda station.