‘Wealthy’ US businessman accused of Shelbourne Hotel sex assault

Tom Tuite

A “wealthy” US businessman has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a man in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel.

The accused, in his 50s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge John Brennan on Friday after the investigation was accelerated and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) issued directions to gardaí.

The central allegation was that he groped inside and outside a man’s shorts in the luxury five-star hotel on a date earlier this month, Dublin District Court was told.

He was granted bail, temporarily set at €500, with tight conditions and must appear again next week to lodge €30,000.

Detective Garda Alan Ryan, attached to Pearse Street Station, told Judge Brennan that the businessman’s response to the charge after caution was “It was consensual”.

The detective objected to bail on the grounds the accused did not live in Ireland and due to the serious nature of the allegations.

He outlined that the investigation file was expedited and the DPP had directed the accused’s case could be dealt with at the District Court level, “on a guilty plea only".

Otherwise, he must face trial on indictment in the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers. The charge carries a possible jail sentence of up to five years.

Detective Garda Ryan voiced flight risk concerns because the accused was a tourist from the United States with no ties to this jurisdiction whatsoever.

The detective said the man, “has no family friends or any connection to the State” and both he and his partner had “exceptional means” and were “quite wealthy”.

The officer explained that the financial implications of bail “would not be an issue for the man if he did not return”.

Questioned by defence counsel Oisín Clarke, he agreed that his client’s instructing solicitor Brian Keenan had been in touch with gardaí from the outset and indicated he met gardaí by appointment once the DPP’s decision was given.

He agreed with the barrister that the financial aspect had been mentioned by the accused himself. The court heard his partner was a company director and together had significant means of income.

The detective garda acknowledged that the accused had indicated to him that he had no difficulty in returning to Ireland for his case.

Addressing the seriousness of the accusation, Mr Clarke said, “The actual allegation related to touching outside the clothes of another man’s penis”.

Detective Garda Ryan replied: “Judge, the allegation relates to reaching inside the shorts of the victim, groping his buttocks and then grabbing his penis from outside his shorts at the same time”.

He added that while the DPP stated that the case could stay in the District Court if there was a guilty plea, “I still categorise it as a very serious offence”.

Mr Clarke revealed that his current instructions were that his client intended to plead not guilty, having indicated to the garda that it was consensual.

Counsel put it to him that if it proceeded to trial it the Circuit Court, the earliest date would probably be in 2027. Currently, Mr Clarke added that the trial dates for those cases are in December 2026, and a book of evidence had not yet been prepared in his client’s case.

Interview

Detective Garda Ryan agreed the accused was cooperative, gave a full account, and answered all questions put to him during his interview. There were no issues during the arrest or any need to handcuff him.

However, given the serious nature of the allegation, his primary concern was “the extreme possibility of flight risk”.

Counsel said his client was happy to surrender his passport until he could get bail money.

Judge Brennan held that given the substantive evidence against the defendant and surrounding circumstances and the detective’s concerns, strict conditions would be appropriate. He also noted that the American denied the allegation.

His solicitor Brian Keenan has been in contact with the defendant’s partner. Counsel said it would take a little bit of time for funds to be transferred from the United States.

The defence suggested a short adjournment and to release him on minimal bail with several terms provided he comes back with a more substantial sum to have more conditions imposed.

The accused, who is now staying at a different hotel, was ordered to surrender his passport immediately, and gave a sworn undertaking saying “I agree” to sign on daily at a Garda station in Dublin, not contact the complainant and not leave the jurisdiction.