A Brazilian Deliveroo driver has been refused bail after being charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in a north Dublin alley last month, reports Breaking News.
The 27-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and has been living in Ireland illegally for two years, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Wednesday, reports Breaking News.
The accused, described as having “made his life here,” has since been dismissed by the food delivery company.
He faces charges of sexually assaulting the girl, who had been playing with a friend on 15 February, and of possessing a false Portuguese driving licence at his north Dublin residence on a later date, reports Breaking News.
Garda Grainne Raggett told Judge Finan that the man gave “no reply” to the assault charge and claimed he did not know the driving licence was false, reports Breaking News.
She opposed bail, citing concerns he might not attend trial if released and highlighting the seriousness of the allegations, reports Breaking News.
Garda Raggett said directions would be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding potential further charges, and alleged the man was suspected of making “suspicious” approaches to two other children on separate occasions last month.
Regarding the alleged assault, Garda Raggett said the girl’s father reported the incident to a north Dublin station, reports Breaking News.
It was alleged the child was in an alley near her home playing with a friend when a delivery rider approached on an electric bicycle.
During a specialist recorded interview, the girl said the man pulled her pants down to her knees, exposing her skin and genital area, reports Breaking News.
The girl recalled the man bringing his face to her level, touching her hip with one hand and her lower stomach area.
She described him using two fingers to touch her below the stomach area, closer to her private parts than her belly button, reports Breaking News.
Garda Raggett added that the man then took a phone call, told her he was “done,” and left on his bicycle.
The child noted he rode an electric bicycle because he did not need to pedal, reports Breaking News.
It emerged that separate reports were received by gardaí about a Deliveroo driver making approaches to children on 13 and 17 February, which remain under investigation, reports Breaking News.
Defence counsel Ciara Murray told the court that her client recalled “a brief, quite innocent encounter” in relation to one of the approach allegations.
In his Garda interview, the accused denied the sexual assault, stating he may have brushed against the girl but did not touch her with his hand, reports Breaking News.
GPS phone data showed he was present in all three areas on the relevant dates, the court heard.
Garda Raggett said the accused, who has no legal status in Ireland, arrived from the UK two years ago and that his home search uncovered the false driving licence, reports Breaking News.
He had been tracked on CCTV, but under cross-examination, the garda admitted there was no footage showing him with the girl in the alley, reports Breaking News.
Ms Murray requested bail, highlighting that her client would comply with strict conditions.
She noted that the man, who did not address the court, has limited means but stable accommodation and had cooperated with the investigation, including identifying himself on CCTV footage, reports Breaking News.
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