Man accused of putting hand under woman's skirt as she walked home from work in Dublin

He appeared before Judge Brian O’Shea at Dublin District Court. The judge said there were reporting restrictions and ordered the media not to publish his identity.

Judge O’Shea was given an outline of the allegations for the purpose of deciding jurisdiction – whether the case would stay in the district court or go to the circuit court which can impose lengthier sentences.

The court heard that it was alleged that on a date in June at Cope Street in Dublin 2 at approximately 7.30pm the accused approached a female, whose age was not stated, from behind. The woman had been on her way home from work and it was alleged the accused “put his hand underneath her skirt”.

The injured party’s statement was handed in to court and the judge said he was accepting jurisdiction. After the trial venue issue was decided he acceded to a request from defence solicitor Brian Keenan to make an order for disclosure of prosecution evidence.

The man, who did not address the court, was remanded on bail to appear again on a date in January when he will be expected to say how he intended to plead to the charge.

The man has been ordered on an earlier date to obey a 11pm-7am curfew and there was no objection to the defence request for that to be changed to 11pm-5am. His solicitor said the man was seeking work again and the curfew had been somewhat prohibitive.

The judge also noted that he has to sign on three times a week at a Garda station in Dublin. The accused has an address on the city’s north-side.

However, following a request by the defence solicitor, he amended the bail term for two weeks over Christmas and the New Year when the accused will be staying in his family home in the west of Ireland.