Woman arrested in Tralee for failing to produce a passport appears in court in Cork

Officers from the Workplace Relations Commission carried out an inspection visit to a Chinese restaurant when the arrest was made

Detective Garda Marian McCarthy brought the defendant before Cork District Court on Wednesday as there was no court sitting in Kerry to deal with the matter. File picture: Larry Cummins

Officers from the Workplace Relations Commission and An Garda Síochána made an inspection visit to a Chinese restaurant in Tralee and a 45-year-old woman was arrested for failing to produce a passport.

Detective Garda Marian McCarthy brought the defendant before Cork District Court on Wednesday as there was no court sitting in Kerry to deal with the matter. The woman was charged with failing to produce a passport or equivalent travel document establishing her identity as required under the Immigration Act.

A Mandarin interpreter was present in Cork District Court where there was an objection to bail based on the fact that gardaí did not know who she was, and regarded her as a flight risk if given bail.

Det. Garda McCarthy said officers attended the premises in Tralee on Tuesday, September 29, and met the accused. He said: “Basically, we do not know who this woman is. She has no identification, no passport, and she ran from gardaí yesterday evening when initially stopped in Tralee. I believe she is a flight risk.

“The owner of the restaurant did not co-operate (in relation to the woman’s identity). He told us she started working there yesterday.” 

Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said the accused told gardaí her passport was in her bag at her accommodation. Det. Garda McCarthy said they checked and there was no passport.

Mr Kelleher said: “If you got a look at her passport we would not be here (in court) today.” The detective replied: “Exactly.” 

The defendant said she could not understand why she had been arrested and detained. She said that her name at work was Chen Li and that her name on her passport was Li Na.

Judge David Waters refused the application for bail and remanded her in custody to appear at Listowel District Court on Thursday.