A man has appeared in court in Dublin charged with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl who was in the care of the Irish Child and Family Agency, Tusla.
The 26-year-old man was charged with sexually assaulting the young girl at Garter Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.
The man cannot be named because of the Republic of Ireland's rules around sexual assault cases.
A garda (Irish police officer) told the court the man accused replied "I have nothing to say" when he was charged.
The accused was granted free legal aid after the court was told he was not working.
Man in court charged with sexually assaulting 10 year-old girl in Dublin
The man is accused of sexually assaulting the girl in Dublin in the early hours of Monday.
Protesters set a police car on fire and hurled glass bottles at officers in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday night after an illegal migrant was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Irish girl who was in state care.
The violence erupted outside the City West Hotel, a sprawling former hotel-turned migrant center where an illegal migrant — who had deportation orders standing against him — is accused of attacking the girl late Sunday night.
Irish police, An Garda Síochána, said that six people were arrested during the clashes and one female police officer suffered a foot injury.
Police said their officers were subject to "sustained attacks" as they tried to cordon off the building. Nearly 300 police were dispatched to the area in Saggart.
Some protesters were seen waving Irish flags while others could be heard chanting, "Get them out, get them out," in reference to the 2,000 migrants living at the shelter.
Police said protesters hurled hundreds of empty glass bottles from nearby garbage containers and bricks at officers, while fireworks were also discharged. A police helicopter was targeted with lasers, a spokesperson said.
Men on horseback attempted to breach police lines by charging at law enforcement, police said. Police used pepper spray as they tried to disperse the crowd.
"An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protests on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest," Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said in a statement. "The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardaí."
The victim was in the care of child protection services, known as "Tusla," which said she had absconded from staff during a planned recreational trip in the city center. It is unclear how she got in contact with the suspect.
The suspect, who is in his 20s, is originally from Africa, according to the Irish Mirror. He arrived in Ireland six years ago and failed his application for international protection in 2024 and was ordered deported in March, according to the Irish Times.
The incident took place on the grounds of Citywest, a former hotel which for the last few years has been housing migrants seeking international protection.
The Irish government bought the hotel in September for around $150 million with the aim of turning it into a permanent migrant facility despite several protests by locals.
Dublin protesters clash with police, burn vehicle after migrant accused of sexually assaulting Irish girl
Dublin, Ireland, protests turned violent Tuesday and a police car was set ablaze after a migrant allegedly sexually assaulted a girl in state child care.
