Newbridge Direct Provision resident gets 10 months prison sentence at Naas District Court

An asylum seeker residing at a Direct Provision Centre in  Newbridge  has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for having false French identification which he says he got to allow him work.

Naas District Court heard how the accused has been in Ireland for seven years.

Detective Derek Thompson of the National Immigration Bureau, gave evidence before Naas District Court, how the accused was charged with having false French ID at Eyre Powell Hotel, Newbridge, on October 22 2018.

The court heard how a search was carried out and the accused is subject to a deportation order.

Garda evidence outlined how a search was carried out in the accused's room and that he was the only occupant of the room. According to Garda evidence, the inside pocket of coat contained a French document with his name.

Garda evidence said that it was a false document, and the court heard that the accused told Gardaí that he only used it for work purposes, for the meat factory.

Defence Solicitor, Timmy Kennelly, said: "He is taken aback, he made the document himself. He is seven years in Ireland, all the time he co-operated."

Mr Kennelly told the court how the accused has no previous convictions.

Mr Kennelly said that the accused only created the ID so that he could work and that he wants to work and contribute to Irish society.

Defence said: "He is not here to sponge off the state."

Mr Kennelly said that the accused does not want to go back to his native Algeria.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said: "How do people come in and out of Ireland with no documents. "

The accused was sentenced to 10 months in custody, backdated to January 23, last.

Recognisances for appeal were set at €500 cash and an independent surety of €2,000.