Trial of man accused of coercing woman into getting married collapses

The trial of a man accused of coercing a woman into marriage has been discontinued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Yasir Ali, aged 31, of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to coercion at apartments in Ballinrobe and Hollymount, County Mayo, between January and July 2015. The jury was discharged on the opening day of the trial after the State prosecutor received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to enter a nolle prosequi, ending the case. The prosecution had alleged Mr Ali played a significant role in intimidating the complainant. Evidence heard from the complainant described arriving in Ireland from Lithuania with promises of employment, having her travel documents withheld, and being pressured into marrying a stranger she had never met. The case proceeded no further.