A judge has refused directions from the DPP to allow an Asian doctor accused of sexually assaulting two woman patients to have his case heard in the District Court. The 36year-old doctor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with sexually assaulting the patients, aged in their early 20s, in separate incidents at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, on July 28th.
Judge Con O'Leary said he was refusing submissions from both the defence and prosecution that the case constituted a minor offence which could be heard in the District Court.
Defence counsel Mr Felix McEnroy BL argued the allegations of touching were "not a sexual assault in the straightforward sense of assault". He said the defendant had carried out examinations in wards and recorded these on his charts.
However, Judge O'Leary said the case would be a minor offence only if he accepted the defendant's version of events.
He remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail to appear before the present sittings of the Circuit Criminal Court.