Man rearrested after Citywest sexual assault charges dropped
A 27-year-old Sudanese man was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in the care of Tusla, allegedly committed on 20 October 2025 at the Citywest IPAS centre in Saggart, Dublin. The allegations sparked three days of violent rioting in the area in October 2025. On 23 October 2026, the State withdrew both charges via nolle prosequi at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Martin Nolan discharged the man from the indictment. The man, who had appeared by video-link from Midlands Prison, was immediately rearrested by the Garda National Immigration Bureau on foot of a deportation order made the previous spring. He is now back in custody in Midlands Prison, and gardaí are monitoring online activity ahead of a planned protest on Saturday evening.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested23 Oct
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Oct
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 27-year-old Sudanese man was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in the care of Tusla.
- Where
- The alleged incident occurred at the Citywest IPAS centre in Saggart, Dublin, a former hotel and golf resort accommodating international protection applicants.
- The deportation arrest took place in the Midlands area.
- When
- The alleged incident took place on 20 October 2025; the man was originally charged with one count that day and a second charge was added at a court hearing in December.
- Other details
- The allegations sparked three days of violent rioting outside the Citywest complex in October 2025, during which rioters attacked gardaí for over an hour and horses were charged at Garda lines.
- The man is now back in custody in Midlands Prison and is expected to remain there until deported.
- Gardaí are monitoring online activity and reviewing security for a planned protest on Saturday evening outside the Citywest IPAS centre.
- Investigation
- Thirty-seven people were arrested as part of the investigation into the riots, and 28 were charged with criminal offences.
- The man was immediately rearrested by the Garda National Immigration Bureau on foot of a deportation order made in the spring of the previous year.
- In court
- On 23 October 2026, the State entered a nolle prosequi at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan, and the judge discharged the man from the indictment and ordered his release.
- The man appeared by video-link from Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, Co Laois.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 20s was arrested on foot of a deportation order (garda.ie)
- whatThe two sexual assault charges were withdrawn by nolle prosequi at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man was immediately rearrested for deportation after being freed from court. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man is expected to remain in custody until deported. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man was originally charged with one count of sexual assault on 20 October 2025, and a second charge was added at a court hearing in December. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA large protest at the Citywest IPAS centre turned violent with rioters attacking gardaí for over an hour. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHorses were charged at Garda lines during the protest. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSporadic violence continued in the area for two nights after the main protest. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí are monitoring online activity and reviewing security for a planned protest on Saturday evening. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man in his 20s was arrested by GNIB on foot of a deportation order. (gript.ie)
- whereThe arrest took place in the Midlands area (garda.ie)
- whereThe man appeared by video-link from Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged incident occurred at Citywest, Saggart, a former hotel and golf resort accommodating international protection applicants. (gript.ie)
- whenThe deportation order was made in the spring of the previous year, before the sexual assault accusation. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged incident took place on 20 October 2025. (gript.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested by officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau. (rte.ie)
- investigationThirty-seven people were arrested as part of the investigation into the riots. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was carried out by Gardaí from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man was charged with two counts of sexual assault on 20 October 2025. (rte.ie)
- chargeTwenty-eight of those arrested were charged with criminal offences and brought before the courts. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child. (gript.ie)
- courtThe charges against the man were dropped on 23 October 2026. (rte.ie)
- courtThe State told Judge Martin Nolan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court it was not proceeding and entered a nolle prosecui. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge directed the man, who appeared by video link, be released from custody. (rte.ie)
- courtThe DPP indicated it would not pursue the alleged offences. (gript.ie)
- courtThe State officially withdrew both charges. (gript.ie)
- courtJudge Nolan agreed to discharge the man from the indictment. (gript.ie)
- courtThe 27-year-old was ordered released from custody and the trial date was vacated. (gript.ie)
- courtBoth charges were withdrawn through a nolle prosequi. (gript.ie)
- otherThe man was released from Midlands prison and immediately rearrested on a deportation order. (rte.ie)
- otherThe man is now back in Midlands prison. (rte.ie)
- otherIn October 2025, false allegations and misinformation circulated online and fuelled three days of rioting in Citywest, Dublin. (rte.ie)
- otherThe individual is currently in custody (garda.ie)
- otherThe accused man is a failed asylum seeker from an African nation, aged 27. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man is a Sudanese asylum seeker. (gript.ie)
- otherThe alleged victim was a 10-year-old girl in the care of Tusla. (gript.ie)
- otherThe allegations sparked protests outside the Citywest complex in October 2025 that escalated into violent disorder. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Oct2026Man arrested on foot of deportation order
Both sexual assault charges were withdrawn via nolle prosequi at the DPP's direction; Judge Nolan discharged the man from the indictment and ordered his release. He was subsequently arrested by GNIB on foot of a deportation order. An update amended the arrest location from Dublin to the Midlands area. The man had previously told gardai the girl said she was 18 and he had 'just kissed her.' The allegations had sparked protests and violent disorder outside Citywest in October 2025.
accused, 27, male, Sudanese, non-irishvictim, 10, female - 23 Oct2026Man arrested for deportation after Citywest sexual assault case is dropped
Adds details on the DPP's decision to discontinue the prosecution, the immediate deportation arrest by GNIB, the man's statement about the second charge, the rioting details, and Tusla's apology for its earlier statement.
victim, 10, femaleaccused, 27, male - 23 Oct2026Male Arrested On Foot of Deportation Order – 23rd October 2026
Initial report of a GNIB arrest on foot of a deportation order in the Midlands area.
accused, 20s, male - 23 Oct2026Man rearrested after Citywest assault charges dropped
Charges dropped via nolle prosecui; man released from Midlands prison and immediately rearrested by Garda National Immigration Bureau on a deportation order.
accused, 27, malevictim, female