Man, 35, appears in court charged with false imprisonment of a girl

A 35-year-old man appeared at Portlaoise District Court yesterday charged with false imprisonment of a girl.

Michael Martin, with an address at 3 Shandon Court, Yellow Rd, Waterford City, was charged with the offence, which allegedly occurred at Oldtown, Cullohill, Co Laois, on March 4.

Garda Declan Quinlan of Abbeyleix Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution of the defendant yesterday at Portlaoise Garda Station.

In reply to the charge, Garda Quinlan said Mr Martin answered: “I was told in the interview room that the question to the girl was would she identify the man and I was told that she could identify no one. On my Uncle Mick’s life, I abducted no one.”

Garda Quinlan said bail was being opposed by gardaí and asked that the defendant be remanded in custody.

Solicitor Anne Manning, for the accused, said she was seeking bail in the case.

During the course of the hearing, Mr Martin shouted: “I didn’t abduct no one.”

Denying bail in the case, Judge Catherine Staines said: “This is one of the worst charges to come before this court.”

She remanded Mr Martin in custody and to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.