Man accused of sexually assaulting woman banned from dating websites
Andrew Phelan
Published 17/09/2014 | 15:53
Courts of Criminal Justice
A software designer accused of sexually assaulting a woman in his car in UCD has been banned from using internet dating websites under bail conditions.
Patrick Nevin (33) is alleged to have attacked the woman after driving her to a secluded location on the grounds of the university, of which he himself is a graduate.
Dublin District Court heard the accused would “deny any wrongdoing at any stage.”
Judge Michael Walsh granted him bail on condition of a €2,500 cash lodgement and subject to an order that he stays off internet dating sites.
The accused, a father-of-two, was remanded in custody until he is able to take up bail.
Mr Nevin, with an address at Meadowlands Court, Mounttown, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, is charged with sexually assaulting the woman at UCD on July 23.
Garda Declan Ryan of Pearse Street Station said he arrested the defendant at Kevin Street Station at 8.57am today. He made no reply to the charge after caution.
Garda Ryan said he was objecting to bail on grounds of the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years on conviction on indictment.
It was alleged that the accused drove the woman to a secluded location at the UCD campus in Belfield.
He allegedly grabbed her by the hair and forced her to kiss him on the lips, at which she asked him to stop. He then put his hand up her dress and touched the bare skin of both her upper thighs, the garda said. She was not wearing any tights.
He pulled down her top, exposing her breasts, which he looked at, Garda Ryan alleged.
The woman attempted to fight him off and he tried to punch her but she ducked and he hit her in the back of the head. It was alleged she got her seatbelt opened and he tried to drag her back into the car but she escaped.
The alleged victim alerted a woman who was out walking her dog and this witness helped her get a taxi home, Garda Ryan said.
This witness made a statement saying that the alleged victim was in a distressed state and asked for help. She said she was “in a car and a male tried to have sex with her.”
On arriving home, the alleged victim told her flatmate what happened. She also contacted the college and told staff she had been assaulted there, the court heard.
Garda Ryan said the prosecution had “good quality” CCTV evidence that showed him collecting the alleged injured party in a BMW outside Tesco on Talbot Street at 9.30pm. There was also CCTV footage of the car arriving at UCD at around 9.50pm and leaving.
Defence Solicitor Alan Doyle applied for bail, saying the accused not denying being on the UCD campus but “denies any wrongdoing at any stage.”
The defendant has two young children and is in permanent employment with an IT software company. The court heard he has a degree in computer science from UCD.
Judge Walsh granted bail in the defendant’s own bond of €5,000, with a €1,000 cash lodgement, as well as an independent surety of €3,000, including another €1,500 cash.
He is to stay at his aunt’s home address in Dublin, observe a curfew, surrender his passport and provide a mobile phone number at which he is contactable 24 hours a day.
Judge Walsh remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail, to appear in Cloverhill District Court next week.
A legal aid application was deferred.
