A Dublin man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at a south Dublin Luas stop has been granted bail, despite Garda objections.
The 62-year-old accused man, who is legally entitled to anonymity, appeared before Dún Laoghaire District Court charged with sexually assaulting the girl on June 22 last.
A garda objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence.
Gardaí told Judge Anne Watkin they were present at the Luas stop at the time of the alleged incident but did not witness what occurred. The court heard that gardai had obtained CCTV footage of the alleged incident.
The court heard that the accused man was allegedly highly intoxicated at the time and was arrested at his home the following morning.
The accused was represented by Berna Kennedy BL.
Judge Watkin said any allegation of sexual assault involving a child was a very serious matter.
However, she said that the alleged assault was at the lower end of the scale of sexual assault offences and there was insufficient evidence before the court to establish a likelihood of further offending if the accused was granted bail.
Judge Watkin also noted that the accused did not know the injured party before the alleged incident and said there was no evidence before the court that he would interfere with her as a witness.
The accused was granted bail on his own bond of €500.
The conditions of bail include that he have no direct or indirect contact with the injured party, including through social media. The court also directed that if he encounters or recognises the injured party in public, he must immediately leave the area.
The matter was adjourned for directions for 16 weeks until 14 December.