A judge has ruled that a student charged with the attempted abduction of a young boy from a Dublin apartment building should be named.
Visak Rajesh Leela (25) who is originally from India, was arrested following a party on Saturday and was refused bail on Wednesday.
He was allegedly seen walking out with the five-year-old âunder his armâ. Judge Alan Mitchell heard a jury would have to decide if âit was extremely misguided, foolish horseplay by a drunk man or something more sinisterâ.
âWe are absolutely adamant that it was the former,â defence solicitor Michael Kelleher told Cloverhill District Court.
Mr Leela, a postgraduate student who has lived in south Dublin for ten months, made no bail application at Dublin District Court on Monday. At that stage, another judge had ordered the media not to name him after gardaà cited the âsensitivityâ of the case âin the current climateâ.
However, when the case resumed at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday, Judge Mitchell lifted the restrictions that prevented the accused being named in the press earlier in the week.
John Freeman BL, for various news outlets, submitted legal authorities and argued that the order went against the mediaâs rights, and he pointed out that the Childrenâs Act already protected the anonymity of child witnesses in the case.
State solicitor Niamh McKernan informed the judge that the only concern was about the children being identified, but the defendant could be named âlike in any other caseâ.
Detective Sergeant Basil Grimes explained that the initial Garda application on Monday was based on a concern that the injured party would be inadvertently identified. However, he added, âWe have received all the information and that is not the case.â
Judge Mitchell noted the accused did not live near the apartment block and had no connection to that area. He held that the media could name him but must exercise caution and not identify any children involved in the case. Following exchanges with Mr Kelleher, he ordered that Mr Leelaâs specific address not be reported due to the current climate, âfuelled by social mediaâ.
Objecting to bail, Det Sgt Grimes alleged that the accused was at the building and interacted with the young boy and his older sister, aged ten, at the door. The defendant followed them in and emerged with the boy under his arm, and there was CCTV evidence.
The girl followed them, and they returned to the outside of the door. The children went inside, and the accused left.
Mr Leela, who appeared via video link, did not address the court or need an interpreter.
His reply to the charge earlier was: âI was not taking the child anywhere. Iâm not a person like that. I do not have any intention with a child. I do not have any bad or unwanted intentions with a child.â
The court heard gardaà would recommend to the DPP that the case go to the Circuit Court, where the offence can attract a maximum seven-year sentence.
The bail objection was rooted in fears the accused had no ties to the jurisdiction and would evade justice if released on bail.
Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said his client was applying for bail. Recently, he contended, there has been a âlazy presumptionâ that foreigners were flight risks.
He said his client was studying in Ireland, had no warrant history, and hoped to extend his visa so he could work here after his course.
The court heard he was intoxicated and unfit to be interviewed for several hours. However, he handed over passwords for gardai to access his devices to check them, and he was adamant that there was âno sinister intent in all of thisâ.
The solicitor was concerned about safety issues from publishing his clientâs address, and he referred to public order incidents outside the Taoiseachâs home.
Mr Kelleher also submitted that people accused of other offences that carry lengthier sentences are frequently granted bail.
However, Judge Mitchell held he was a flight risk, refused bail and remanded Mr Leela in continuing custody to appear again on October 2nd, pending directions from the DPP.
