Man on 'converted’ work permit charged with raping colleague in Dublin

Tom Tuite

A young man who "converted" his student visa for a work permit has been charged with raping a female colleague in Dublin.

The accused, in his 20s, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared at Dublin District Court on Wednesday when his bail was set at €10,000.

Detective Garda Brenda Scanlon told Judge Cephas Power that the accused "made no reply" when charged with two counts of rape, which allegedly occurred over two successive dates earlier this month.

The detective objected to bail due to the defendant's lack of ties to this jurisdiction.

She stressed that the man, a foreign national, had no family in Ireland and described him as "a flight risk". She alleged he came to Ireland on a student visa but had not attended college and was not enrolled in the latest academic year.

The court heard gardaí were aware of his address, and that he had no prior convictions or history of bench warrants. Defence solicitor Peter Connolly said his client denies the allegation.

Mr Connolly said the accused lived in Ireland legally, had handed over his passport to gardaí, his phone was seized, and he had about €2,600 in his bank account. The solicitor said the man, who did not address the court, would sign on regularly at a Garda station and obey other conditions.

He said his presumed innocent client could face two years of pre-trial incarceration if denied bail.

The defence solicitor acknowledged that his client came from a country with no extradition treaty with Ireland, but he contended that extradition would be possible in extremely serious cases.

Judge Power noted the accused had converted his student visa to a work visa, which explained why he had not signed up for his course.

However, he said the detective had established that the accused was a flight risk, but he had the presumption of innocence.

He set bail but required approval of a €10,000 independent surety.

On taking up bail, the man must sign on daily at a Garda station, provide a new phone number to the gardaí, keep the phone on at all times, notify of an address change, surrender his passport and not apply for alternative travel documents, and have no contact with witnesses.

Legal aid was granted to the accused, who was remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again next week.