Man accused of sexually assaulting women on bus journeys in West Cork

When woman asked him, 'What the hell are you doing?' the court heard he replied that it was an accident and that he was falling asleep

Bantry Courthouse heard that the accused claimed he may have fallen asleep on both occasions. File picture: Dan Linehan

A man accused of sexually assaulting two female bus passengers on consecutive days has been refused bail after a judge found there was strong evidence against him and a significant risk he would leave the State.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Bantry District Court, where gardaí objected to his release on the basis of the seriousness of the alleged offences, the risk that he would leave the State, and concerns that he could commit further offences if released.

The charges arise from two alleged incidents on public bus services in Cork involving an adult woman and a juvenile female.

In the first case, an adult woman alleged that the man sat beside her and touched her legs before reaching across and touching her breast. 

The woman asked him: “What the hell are you doing?” 

The court heard he replied that it was an accident and that he was falling asleep.

When the bus reached the next town, the woman reported the matter to the driver. The driver said she appeared shaken, while the man left the bus. 

Gardaí later identified the man through CCTV footage, the court heard.

The second alleged incident involved a girl on the same bus route. She alleged the man rubbed his elbow against her arm and breast and touched her leg. 

The court heard she took a short video on her phone of the man encroaching on her space. The man admitted being on both buses but denied wrongdoing.

Gardaí told the court they had CCTV footage, witnesses, and mobile phone footage. 

They said the man had indicated he wished to return to India, where his wife was ill. 

The court heard he had no family or friends in Ireland and no longer had access to employment or accommodation previously provided by his employer.

Gardaí said he claimed to have used the bus service only two or three times over five weeks and may have fallen asleep on both occasions. 

However, tickets recovered by gardaí indicated that he had used the service more than 40 times during that period.

Judge Joanne Carroll said the man’s account did not appear to be entirely honest. 

She said there was strong evidence against him and that he appeared to be a flight risk. She refused bail and remanded him in custody to appear before Bandon District Court on October 15.

Judge Carroll stressed the importance of ensuring the accused had access to a solicitor who was available to act and not affected by the ongoing solicitors’ dispute. 

She said the matters were very serious and noted that the man was isolated in Ireland, without friends or family to support him.

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