Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 5093Attempted abduction · Co. Dublin · 14 Sep 2024

Indian student charged with attempted abduction of boy from Dublin apartment building refused bail

On Saturday evening, 14 September 2024, CCTV allegedly shows a man leaving a residential building in Dublin 9 with a five-year-old boy under his arm, after interacting with the boy and his ten-year-old sister at the door. Visak Rajesh Leela, a 25-year-old postgraduate student originally from India, was arrested after a party that day. On Monday, 16 September, he was charged at Dublin District Court with intentionally attempting to take a child under 16 without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, and he was remanded in custody. On Wednesday, 18 September, at Cloverhill District Court, Judge Alan Mitchell lifted the naming restrictions, refused bail as a flight risk, and remanded him in custody to appear again on 2 October 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged16 Sep
  4. In court16 Sep
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí are investigating the alleged attempted abduction of a five-year-old boy from a domestic apartment building.
Where
The alleged incident took place at a residential building in Dublin 9.
When
The alleged incident happened on Saturday evening, 14 September 2024.
Investigation
  • CCTV from the building shows the accused interacting with the boy and his ten-year-old sister at the door, then following the children in and emerging with the boy under his arm.
  • The accused was intoxicated and unfit to be interviewed for several hours, and he handed gardaí passwords to access his devices.
Cause
The defence says the accused was at a party in the building and was intoxicated, and his solicitor, Michael Kelleher, said it was misguided horseplay rather than something more sinister.
Charges
  • Visak Rajesh Leela was charged with intentionally attempting to take or detain a child under 16 without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
  • In response to the charge, the accused said he was not taking the child anywhere and had no bad or unwanted intentions towards a child.
  • The offence can attract a maximum sentence of seven years, and gardaí would recommend the case go to the Circuit Court.
In court
  • On Monday, 16 September 2024, he appeared at Dublin District Court No 1, where he made no bail application and was remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court for a bail application on Wednesday.
  • On Monday, 16 September 2024, a reporting restriction preventing him being named was granted at the request of gardaí, citing the sensitivity of the case.
  • On Wednesday, 18 September 2024, at Cloverhill District Court, Judge Alan Mitchell lifted the naming restrictions, refused bail as the accused was a flight risk with no ties to the jurisdiction, and remanded him in continuing custody.
Sentence
No sentence has been imposed, and the accused is due to appear again on 2 October 2024.
Other details
Sources describe the accused as a man in his 20s, mid-twenties, or 25; he is a postgraduate student originally from India who has lived in south Dublin for ten months.
45 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are investigating an alleged attempted abduction of a minor. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused is charged with intentionally attempting to take or detain a child aged under 16 without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused was charged with the attempted abduction of a young boy from a Dublin apartment building. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused interacted with the young boy and his older sister, aged ten, at the door of the building. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant followed the children in and emerged with the boy under his arm, supported by CCTV evidence. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged incident happened at a domestic residential building in Dublin 9. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at a residential building in Dublin 9. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe man allegedly left a Dublin apartment building with a young child. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe man allegedly left a Dublin apartment building with a young child under his arm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged incident happened on Saturday evening, 14 September 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on Saturday evening, 14 September 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe man appeared at Dublin District Court on the day the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenHe was arrested following a party on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe defence said the accused was at a party in the building and was intoxicated. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí make no further comment because the investigation is before the courts. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said further details could not be provided while the investigation is before the courts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV from the building showed the accused interacting with two children, aged five and ten, whom he did not know. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV from the building showed the man interacting with two children, whom he did not know. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeA man is due in court over the alleged attempted abduction of a minor. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeA man in his 20s was charged in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man is accused of intentionally attempting to take a child aged under 16 without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before Dublin District Court No 1 on Monday 16 September 2024 at 10:30am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe man was expected to appear before Dublin District Court on the morning of 16 September 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused replied to the charge that he was not taking the child anywhere. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge ordered the accused remanded in custody, describing the matter as very serious. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday for a bail application. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man was remanded in custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGardaí asked for reporting restrictions due to the current climate, and the judge granted them. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man was not ready to apply for bail at this stage. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe man was granted legal aid and remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday for a bail application. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Mitchell lifted the restrictions that prevented the accused being named in the press. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGardaí would recommend the case go to the Circuit Court, where the offence can attract a maximum seven-year sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Mitchell held the accused was a flight risk, refused bail and remanded him in continuing custody to appear again on 2 October. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man is described as a male aged in his 20s. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe accused cannot be named, and a reporting restriction order was granted. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man was at a party in the building and was intoxicated, according to his solicitor. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man said in response to the charge that he was not taking the child anywhere. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused is a postgraduate student who has lived in south Dublin for ten months. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused appeared via video link and did not address the court or need an interpreter. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe bail objection was rooted in fears the accused had no ties to the jurisdiction and would evade justice. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused was intoxicated and unfit to be interviewed for several hours. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused handed over passwords for gardaí to access his devices. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused did not live near the apartment block and had no connection to that area. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Sep2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Student charged with attempted abduction of boy from Dublin apartment building refused bail

    Bail hearing at Cloverhill District Court; naming restrictions lifted; accused remanded in custody as a flight risk; gardaí to recommend Circuit Court trial.

    suspect, Visak Rajesh Leela, 25, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Visak Rajesh Leelavictim, 5, male
  2. 16 Sep2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man accused of attempted abduction walked out of Dublin building with child (5) ‘under his arm’, court hears

    Reports the first court appearance at Dublin District Court on Monday, the reporting restriction, the remand in custody to Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday for a bail application, and the accused's reply to the charge.

    victim, 5accused, mid-twenties, male
  3. 16 Sep2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Court hears man left apartment with child 'under his arm'

    Reports the first court appearance at Dublin District Court, where the accused was remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court for a bail application. Adds the garda account of the charge reply, CCTV evidence, the defence account of intoxication, and the reporting restriction.

    victim, 5accused, mid-twenties, male
  4. 16 Sep2024
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man, 20s, charged in connection with alleged attempt to abduct child in Dublin

    Earlier report of the charge and court appearance on 16 September 2024, before the later bail hearing. Gardaí said further details could not be given while the case is before the courts.

    suspect, 20s, malevictim
  5. 16 Sep2024
    In courtdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Man due in court over alleged attempted abduction of a minor in north Dublin

    Gardaí confirmed the man is due before Dublin District Court No 1 on 16 September 2024 and gave no further comment as the case is before the courts. The article does not name the man or the minor.

    accused, 20s, malevictim