A former garda who is alleged to have assaulted two women in Ireland last year will be repatriated from South Africa today barring a last minute hitch.
He was originally booked on a Lufthansa flight out of South Africa yesterday. However, there was a problem over booking three seats in a row for the former garda and two South African police officers. This problem is believed to be resolved.
The former garda, in his early 30s, was arrested in Cape Town last week at the request of the Garda working through Interpol. He allegedly evaded gardai anxious to question him about the attack by absconding to South Africa.
He entered South Africa on a tourist visa last year. The visa, however, expired last November, meaning he was living in South Africa illegally at the time of his arrest.
A woman friend, believed to be Irish, reportedly contacted the Irish Embassy. The Irish Ambassador, Mr Eamon O Tuathail, could not be contacted for comment yesterday.