KILDARE COURT: Woman made a false statement alleging she was the victim of sexual impropriety

A woman who made a false statement to gardaí alleging sexual impropriety had made an appearance at Naas District Court.

The woman, aged in her early 20s and from west Wicklow, is being prosecuted for making a false statement in May 2022.

Sgt Dave Hanrahan told the court that the women did not make the complaint against a specific person.

The sergeant said that the woman complained she was confronted by a man with a knife.

He said she subsequently admitted that she made a false report and this happened in February.

He added she made a statement of admission ”straight away”.

Defending solicitor David Gibbons said there was no danger of anyone being convicted because nobody was identified.

He said the defendant suffers with poor mental health.

He added that her parents put pressure on her to continue with a college course she did not want to pursue.

She is horrified over what happened and she is in a much better place now, added Mr Gibbons.

The defendant is now taking a course she’s interested in.

Mr Gibbons said he would have a medical report for a future hearing.

Mr Gibbons added another person would have stated they did not want to follow the course but “she handled it in a completely different way.”

He added: “It was very bad judgement.”

Questioned by Judge Desmond Zaidan, Sgt Hanrahan said statements were taken from people who were in the area at the time “which led gardai to believe it didn’t happen.”

Nobody was arrested, he said, and the people who were spoken to were “interviewed as potential witnesses.”

The defendant was remanded on continuing bail.