A migrant who allegedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl outside an asylum seeker hotel in Dublin was awaiting deportation, a court heard on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old appeared via video link before a judge at Cloverhill District Court in the city where a fiery riot broke out on Wednesday night, sparked by anger over the alleged attack in the early hours of Monday and migrants in the city.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke through an Arabic interpreter during the 10-minute hearing when he was remanded back into custody.
The man who is believed to come from an African country is reported to have arrived in the Republic of Ireland six years ago.
He allegedly had his application for asylum, known in Ireland as international protection, turned down last year, and is said to have been subject to a deportation order since March this year.
The alleged victim, who also cannot be named, was an Irish girl who was in care, and had reportedly absconded while being escorted on a trip.
She was allegedly attacked in Garter Lane next to the sprawling Citywest Hotel and conference centre in south-west Dublin which accommodates up to 2,300 people, mainly those seeking international protection and a number of Ukrainian refugee families.
The centre has become a totem for anti-migration feeling in Ireland, as a second night of protests yesterday saw 23 people arrested.
Bottles, bricks and fireworks were launched at officers, with two taken to the hospital with injuries, police said.
It followed at least six arrests after tensions flared at a protest at the same location on Tuesday night – where a police van was also set on fire – and the first protest, which passed off peacefully on Monda
Protesters throw fireworks at Gardai officers near the Citywest Hotel, as disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers (pictured: Riots on Wednesday night)
Gardai officers block protesters near the Citywest Hotel, where the alleged attack happened (pictured: Riots on Wednesday night)
Gardai officers detain protesters near the Citywest Hote (pictured: Riots on Wednesday night)
A migrant who allegedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl outside an asylum seeker hotel in Dublin was awaiting deportation (pictured: Riots on Tuesday night)
Violence erupted near the City West Hotel, where the alleged attack happened
Angry protests about the arrest of the man and the use of the complex for asylum seekers spilled over into violence outside the hotel on Tuesday night when bricks and bottles were hurled at riot police.
The girl’s alleged attacker is currently on remand at 431-inmate Cloverhill Prison, a medium security jail for adult men, beside the Cloverhill District Court.
He appeared on screen from the prison, wearing a grey jumper, after Judge Alan Mitchell cleared members of the public from the court, allowing only the media and legal representatives to remain.
It had been anticipated that the man would be making a bail application, but that did not happen, and he was not required to enter a plea.
His defence solicitor, who asked not to be named in court reports due to the riot last night, said: ‘We are not making a bail application today, but we reserve the right to make it at a later date.’
The man spoke animatedly to an Arabic interpreter who was sitting in the courtroom during the hearing, leading the judge to ask whether the defendant wanted to make any more points during the hearing
His defence solicitor said after speaking to the interpreter, said: ‘It doesn’t seem an issue about making a (bail) application. It seems to be an issue in relation to other ancillary points.’
Judge Mitchell said he would require 48 hours’ notice if the man wished to make a bail application in future.
Pictured: Exterior of Cloverhill District Court, Dublin
Gardai at the scene, near the Citywest Hotel, where disturbances have flared outside the Dublin hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture date: Wednesday October 22, 2025
Protesters in Saggart, as disturbances have flared outside Citywest Hotel which used to house asylum seekers. Picture date: Tuesday October 21, 2025
The defence solicitor said there was an application for the man to undergo a medical and psychiatric assessment. The judge said this would include a report on his fitness to stand trial.
Judge Mitchell remanded him in custody until November 5 to appear before the same court via video link.
He added: ‘I recommend that he be seen by doctors to be medically and psychiatrically assessed, and that he be afforded any appropriate treatment necessary.’
As the defendant continued to talk to his interpreter, the defence solicitor spoke to her saying: ‘He will stay in prison for the moment, and we will try to move him somewhere.’
Judge Mitchell said hearings in the case might need heightened security in the future, and ordered future hearings to be first on the court list.
