A builder appeared in Dublin District Court yesterday charged with perverting the course of justice by allegedly trying to contact a member of a jury in a criminal trial.
Mr James Walsh (43), Mountainview Drive, Rathfarnham, Dublin, is accused of committing the offence within the Dublin Metropolitan area on June 4th last.
Det Sgt Joe O'Hara told the court that Mr Walsh was arrested yesterday morning and that after he was charged, he replied "No".
Sgt O'Hara opposed bail due to the seriousness of the charge and because of the likelihood of more serious offences being committed, including the intimidation of witnesses.
Counsel for Mr Walsh said his client was separated and had sole custody of his 12- and 16-year-old children, and there would be nobody to look after them if he was taken into custody.
He was prepared to surrender his passport, but he claimed it had been seized during a search of his home two weeks ago along with a credit union book.
Gardaí said his passport had not been taken during the search.
The defence lawyer asked why there were a number of press photographers outside the court gates before the case yesterday morning.
Sgt O'Hara replied that, while he had informed the Garda press office of the case, he did not know what it had done with the information.
Counsel said the sergeant should be aware his client was entitled to his good name.
Judge Michael Connellan said everyone was entitled to their good name.
While a lot of people got their names bandied around in the press, it was "an unfortunate fact of life, though not a pleasant one".
Judge Connellan said that, given the charge and the Garda objections, he was refusing bail.
He remanded Mr Walsh in custody to Cloverhill District Court on September 26th.