Man charged with false imprisonment of girl denied bail

Accused Michael Martin tells court ‘I abducted no one’

Michael Martin  leaving Portlaoise District Court. Photograph: James Flynn/APX
Michael Martin leaving Portlaoise District Court. Photograph: James Flynn/APX

A 35-year-old man has appeared at a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court charged with false imprisonment of a young girl.

Michael Martin with an address at Shandon Court, Yellow Road, Waterford City was charged with the offence, which is alleged to have occurred at Oldtown, Cullohill, Co Laois, on March 4th.

Garda Declan Quinlan, from Abbeyleix Garda station, told the court that when charged at Portlaoise Garda station Mr Martin replied: “I was told in the interview room that the question to the girl was would she identify the man and I was told that she could identify no one.

“On my uncle Mick’s Life I abducted no one.”

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Garda Quinlan said he was opposing bail and asked that the defendant be remanded in custody.

Defending solicitor Anne Manning said that she was seeking bail in the case.

During the course of the bail hearing Mr Martin shouted: “I didn’t abduct no one.”

Denying bail in the case Judge Catherine Staines said: “This is one of the worst charges to come before this court.”

She remanded Mr Martin in custody and to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on March 13th.