A bench warrant has been issued for a man accused of stabbing another man at an IPAS centre in Kerry.
Gardaí told a sitting of Tralee District Court that they believe the man, who was previously granted bail, has fled the jurisdiction.
The man cannot be named as he is an asylum seeker, and the identity of an international protection applicant is protected by the law in Ireland.
The 34-year-old man is charged with assaulting another man, causing him harm, at Linden House on 25th November last year.
Gardaí alleged that he stabbed the other man in the upper thigh with a knife, but the court previously heard the man denies using an implement or stabbing him.
The court granted him bail back in November, despite garda objections.
His case was mentioned at Tralee District Court this week, where Sergeant Chris Manton said gardaí had ascertained the man is no longer in the jurisdiction.
He noted that the accused man’s attendance was not mandatory on this date as there was no update in the case, but his instructions were to apply for a bench warrant.
The man’s solicitor, Brendan Ahern, said he could not contact his client and so could not oppose the application.
Judge David Waters granted the application and issued the bench warrant for the accused.
Sergeant Manton said there will also be an application to revoke the man’s bail, but that was not before that sitting of the district court.
