BY DEARBHLA GERAGHTY

A doctor accused of sexually assaulting a patient in a Galway City hospital was remanded in custody with consent to bail when he appeared before Galway District Court.

The man (42), who cannot be named for legal reasons, was on a three-month contract at the time, which was suspended a month later while the complaint was being investigated.

When charged by Detective Garda Orla Keenan, the father of two, who is not Irish, replied: “I am sorry for that miscommunication between me and the patient, I apologise for this misunderstanding.”
The State strongly objected to the application for bail made by solicitor for the defendant, Adrian MacLynn.

Inspector Michael Coppinger said that the man had no ties to this jurisdiction and, considering that his contract with the hospital had ceased, his right to remain in the country was questionable.

The Judge initially refused bail, but then allowed Mr MacLynn a chance to call witnesses to support his client’s application.

After hearing the evidence put forward, Judge Gibbons decided to grant bail.

The man was then remanded in custody, with consent to bail, on his own lodgement of €5,000, and an independent surety of €5,000, the conditions of which are that he resides at the city address given, sign on daily at Galway Garda Station, surrender his passport and not apply for any other travel documents, and not leave the Irish Republic at any time.
 

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.