Courts / Dublin / Report
Indian National who tried to abduct boy (5) gets suspended sentence, told to leave country
Summary
Visak Rajesh Leela, a 26‑year‑old Indian national, pleaded guilty to attempting to abduct a five‑year‑old boy outside an apartment block in Dublin on 14 September 2024. He claimed he was intoxicated after a party and could not remember why he ran after the child, suggesting he might have thought he knew the children. Garda Laura McDermott testified that Leela had returned to the block after a party, was steady on his feet, and had no alcohol smell, though a doctor later found him intoxicated. CCTV footage showed Leela pulling the boy toward the door and pushing him out. The court, after a probation report assessing Leela as low risk of re‑offending and not a danger to children, imposed a fully suspended three‑year sentence on strict conditions. Leela was ordered to leave Ireland within two weeks and not to return for ten years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Indian National who tried to abduct boy (5) gets suspended sentence, told to leave country. Charges or matters: the attempted abduction on September 14, 2024 from an apartment block in Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 14, 2024 Incident
- October 2023 Incident
- 2025-04-28 Publication
Why: Gda McDermott explained that the boy's sister ran out after her little brother and managed to push the defendant in the back into bushes. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the attempted abduction on September 14, 2024 from an apartment block in Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) By Natasha Reid and Eimear Dodd An Indian national who attempted to abduct a five-year-old boy as he was playing outside an apartment building in Dublin has been handed a fully suspended sentence and told to leave Ireland within the next two weeks. Having considered Leela's personal circumstances and the mitigation, Judge Nolan imposed a three-year sentence, suspended on strict conditions.; After hearing the facts of the case, Judge Martin Nolan previously said there were "troubling aspects" to the offence and adjourned the matter for a probation report, including an assessment of Leela's risk of re-offending.
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