Deliveroo driver denied bail over alleged sexual assault of girl (8)

Tom Tuite

A Brazilian Deliveroo driver has been denied bail after being charged with sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in a north Dublin alley last month.

The 27-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and has been living illegally in Ireland for two years, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.

The accused, described as having "made his life here" has since been let go by a food delivery company.

He was charged with sexual assault of the girl who had been out playing with a friend on February 15th, and possessing a false Portuguese driving licence on a later date at his address in the city's north side.

Garda Grainne Raggett told Judge Finan that the man's response to the assault charge was "no reply" and he told gardaí he did not know the licence was false.

She opposed bail, citing fears that the accused would not face trial if released and the seriousness of the case.

Garda Raggett also said that directions will be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding possible further charges, and she alleged he was suspected of being involved in "suspicious" approaches to two other children on separate dates last month.

Regarding the alleged child sex attack, the garda said the girl's father came to a north Dublin station to report the incident.

It was alleged that the child was in an alley near her home playing with a friend when she observed a delivery rider approaching on an electric bicycle.

A recorded specialist interview was later carried out, during which the girl stated that the man pulled down her pants as far as her knees, exposing her skin and genital area.

The contested bail hearing was told that the girl recalled that the man brought his face down to her level, touched her hip with one hand, and the lower stomach area.

The court heard that she described how he used two fingers to touch her below the stomach area, closer to her private parts than to her belly button.

Garda Raggett, still citing the specialist interview, alleged that the man then took a phone call, "told her he was done," and left on his bicycle.

The child could tell he had an electric bicycle because he did not need to pedal, the court heard.

It emerged during the bail hearing that the gardaí received separate reports of a Deliveroo driver making approaches to children on February 13th and 17th, which are still under investigation.

The garda agreed with defence counsel Ciara Murray that her client recalled "a brief, quite innocent encounter" in relation to one of the approach allegations when he was going through a laneway.

In his garda interview, he denied the sexual assault and told gardaí that he may have brushed against her, but did not touch her with his hand.

GPS phone data obtained in the investigation showed he was in all three areas on those dates, the court heard.

Garda Raggett said the accused, who has no status in Ireland, arrived from the UK two years ago; his home was searched, resulting in the driving licence find.

She said the accused had been tracked on CCTV footage, but under cross-examination, the garda conceded there was no footage of him with the girl in the lane.

Defence counsel Ciara Murray pleaded for bail, telling the judge that her client would abide by stringent conditions.

She stressed that the man, who did not address the court, was of limited means but had stable accommodation and had cooperated with the investigation, during which he identified himself on CCTV footage.

He also admitted to using lanes during his deliveries. He had no convictions in Ireland, and counsel submitted there was no evidence to suggest he would fail to turn up for his trial.

Judge Finan emphasised that the accused still had the presumption of innocence, but held that Garda Raggett had established grounds to oppose bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear again on March 18th at Cloverhill District Court.

Legal aid was granted.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.