An international protection applicant, arrested in Dublin for not carrying valid identity documents and facing questions over his age and personal information, has been granted bail.
Afghan national Alinna Shafaie, who is of no fixed abode, claims to be 26, but his age and his identity were disputed by a garda who arrested him on Wednesday on Trinity Street, Dublin 2.
The father of three, who has yet to indicate a plea, was charged that while being a non-national present in the State aged 16 years or over, he failed to produce on demand to a garda a valid passport or equivalent document to establish his identity and nationality.
He was held overnight and appeared before Judge William Aylmer at Dublin District Court on Thursday.
Garda Emmet Cullen objected to bail on the basis that the accused did not have a photo ID with a date of birth.
The court heard the man told the garda he was born in 1998 and was 26, which the officer did not believe.
The accused listened to the proceedings with the help of an interpreter but was not required to give evidence during the bail hearing.
Garda Cullen said Mr Shafaie did not have documents featuring a photo side-by-side with a date of birth.
The garda agreed with defence solicitor Donal Quigley that the man told him his identity and that he had an International Protection Office (IPO) card for people who have entered the asylum procedure.
The solicitor said the social welfare office accepted the information his client provided, and he received a social welfare payment, which he collects from a post office.
The solicitor added that his client stated he was from Afghanistan but had been to London and Germany before coming to Ireland.
The court heard his wife and family were in Germany, and Mr Shafaie had a phone with a SIM card when he was arrested.
The garda agreed he was concerned the accused had travelled here without identification.
Mr Quigley put it to the officer that other organs of the State had accepted his details, but the officer thought that was to be generous "to help people in need".
He also thought due diligence was not done to confirm the man's identity.
The garda repeated that the man had no documents with a photo and date of birth and added, "I don't believe he is 26".
Pleading for bail, Mr Quigley submitted that, rightly or wrongly, the State has already accepted his client's identity and date of birth, and he got social welfare and an IPO card.
The judge noted the garda objection was not about whether the man would turn up to court but based on his identity.
He released Mr Shafaie on €100 own bond bail and ordered him to sign on three days a week at Garda station, provide his mobile phone number to gardai, remain in contact, and return to court on a date in September.
The charge is contrary to section 12 of the Immigration Act, 2004 and carries a 12-month sentence.
