Friday 30 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. 16365Sexual assault and false imprisonment · Co. Dublin · 23 May 2024

Man refused bail over alleged sexual assault and false imprisonment in south Dublin

Seif Waleed Al Hin Dawi, 22, reported as believed to be from Jordan, is accused of sexual assault and false imprisonment of a woman in her forties in south Dublin on the night of 23 May 2024. The woman says she was followed after getting off a Luas tram at about 11.20pm, held on the ground and bitten, and was treated at St Vincent's hospital for facial injuries. He was initially charged with assault causing harm, but that charge was dropped and replaced with sexual assault and false imprisonment charges, and the DPP directed that he face trial by jury in the Circuit Criminal Court. He was denied bail in the District Court, and on 6 August 2024 Mr Justice Paul Burns at the High Court in Cloverhill refused bail, finding him a flight risk despite the presumption of innocence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Aug
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Seif Waleed Al Hin Dawi, 22, reported as believed to be from Jordan, is accused of sexual assault and false imprisonment of a woman in her forties (reports differ on the age range only in wording).
Where
The alleged incident took place in south Dublin after the woman got off a Luas tram at about 11.20pm.
When
The alleged offence happened on the night of 23 May 2024.
Cause
The woman said she felt someone was following her, and after phoning her husband and glancing back she saw she was being followed.
Investigation
  • Gardaí said the accused and the woman did not know each other.
  • The woman says she was held on the ground and bitten on the face and lips, and she had a cut on her lip and was treated at St Vincent's hospital for facial injuries.
  • It was claimed the man ran towards the woman, pushed her to the ground and assaulted her, and she kicked him and got away, running home.
  • The accused told gardaí the woman assaulted him first.
Charges
  • The accused was initially charged with assault causing harm, and that charge was dropped and replaced with sexual assault and false imprisonment charges.
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the man face trial by jury in the Circuit Criminal Court.
In court
  • The accused was denied bail in the District Court.
  • On 6 August 2024 Mr Justice Paul Burns at the High Court in Cloverhill refused bail, saying the accused had the presumption of innocence but was a flight risk.
  • The defence argued the accused would abide by strict bail terms, but the detective said this would not ease his concerns.
Other details
  • Gardaí said the accused had no ties to the State and there were fears he would flee the jurisdiction.
  • The accused entered the State undocumented after flying from London to Belfast.
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man has been refused bail over an alleged sexual assault and false imprisonment of a woman in south Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe accused is charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment of a woman. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe woman says she was held on the ground and bitten on her face and lips. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe woman got off a Luas tram at about 11.20pm. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place in south Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offence happened on the night of 23 May 2024. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on the night of May 23 last. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe woman said she felt someone was following her. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said the accused and the woman did not know each other. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe woman reported being assaulted after getting off a Luas tram at about 11.20 pm. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe woman sustained a cut on her lip and was treated at St Vincent’s hospital for facial injuries. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was initially charged with assault causing harm to the woman. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe causing harm allegation was dropped and replaced with sexual assault and false imprisonment charges. (rte.ie)
  • chargeAn initial assault causing harm charge was dropped and replaced with sexual assault and false imprisonment charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the man face trial by jury in the Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the accused had the presumption of innocence but was a flight risk, and refused bail. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe accused was denied bail in the District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtA fresh bail application was made before Mr Justice Paul Burns at the High Court in Cloverhill. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtBail was refused because the accused was considered a flight risk. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence argued the accused would abide by strict bail terms, but the detective said this would not ease his concerns. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe woman suffered facial injuries. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe woman phoned her husband and glanced back, seeing she was being followed. (rte.ie)
  • otherIt was claimed the man ran towards the woman, pushed her to the ground and assaulted her. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe woman kicked the man and got away, running home. (rte.ie)
  • otherGardaí said the accused had no ties to the State and there were fears he would flee the jurisdiction. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe accused and the woman did not know each other. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe accused had no ties to the State and there were fears he would flee the jurisdiction. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe accused entered the State undocumented after flying from London to Belfast. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe accused told gardaí the woman assaulted him first. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Aug2024
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Charges of sexual assault and false imprisonment after woman allegedly held down, and bitten on face

    Reports the High Court bail refusal, the replacement of the assault causing harm charge with sexual assault and false imprisonment, and the prosecution's flight-risk evidence.

    accused, Seif Waleed Al Hin Dawi, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Seif Waleed Al Hin Dawivictim, forties, female
  2. 6 Aug2024
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Man accused of assault, false imprisonment refused bail

    Reports the High Court bail refusal on 6 August 2024, with the charge changed from assault causing harm to sexual assault and false imprisonment, and gives the court's reasons and the account of the alleged assault.

    accused, Seif Waleed Al Hin Dawi, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Seif Waleed Al Hin Dawivictim, 40s, female