Defendant in Citywest assault case ‘fit for trial’, court hears

By Bairbre Holmes, PA

A 26-year-old man accused of the sexual assault of a girl in west Dublin is fit for trial, a court has heard.

The man charged with the sexual assault cannot be named because of legal restrictions on all sexual assault cases in Ireland.

He appeared via video link at Cloverhill Courthouse on Wednesday, where the proceedings, and the defendant’s replies, were translated by an Arabic interpreter.

However, Judge Alan Mitchell said he had received a report following the defendant’s last court appearance earlier this month indicating “the accused appears to be fit to be tried”.

A Garda Sergeant told the court there are further serious offences under consideration, but the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPPs) directions are not available at present.

The accused was remanded in custody until December 17, when he is due to appear before the courts again.

Judge Mitchell said that at that point the defendant would have spent “close to two months in custody” and hoped at that stage there would be some progress indicating what direction the case is going.

The alleged assault of the girl took place on Garter Lane, Saggart, on Monday October 20th.

She had been in State care earlier that day.

Violent disorder broke out in Saggart in the days after the alleged sexual assault, in which four gardai were injured, a Garda van was burnt out and over 30 arrests were made.

Judge Mitchell noted the concerning “security issues” surrounding the case.