Man who fled prison detained at Dublin Airport on European arrest warrant
A man returned to Ireland from Romania on a European arrest warrant was taken into custody at Dublin Airport this week and will now serve the remainder of a prison sentence he fled from.
Sorin Ragalie (38), of Collinswood, Dublin 9, appeared at Bray District Court following the execution of a European arrest warrant.
He had been serving a sentence at Shelton Abbey open prison before allegedly absconding to his home country of Romania in 2020.
Mr Ragalie is now facing one count of escaping from lawful custody.
In 2020, at Dundalk Circuit Court, he received a four-year sentence for his role in two thefts from supermarkets in Dundalk totalling more than €1,500.
The court heard at the time that gardaí believed he had entered Ireland in 2019 and had multiple previous convictions from Wales, England and Romania.
His barrister at that sentencing described him as “very capable of being a productive member of society” and said he had previously worked as a fisherman and a labourer.
Garda Peter McGinley of Arklow Garda Station testified that he and Sergeant Alan Murphy collected the defendant at Terminal One, Dublin Airport.
The court was told that after being charged, Mr Ragalie replied: “I will tell the solicitor everything. While in prison they all tried to hit me,” adding that “they all said f*** you, you Romanian”.
He said he was afraid to report the incidents as “he had seen what happens when you tell prison officers”.
Gda McGinley said gardaí objected to bail on the grounds that the accused had been arrested by Romanian police to be returned to Ireland to complete his sentence at Mountjoy Prison.
Barrister for Mr Ragalie, Ciara O’Brien, said her client had no bench warrant history.
The court heard that the accused has no ties to the jurisdiction and had come to Ireland in the summer of 2019.
Judge David Kennedy granted bail on strict conditions, including an independent surety of €10,000, with half in cash, as well as a bond of €3,000 and €1,500 in cash.
Sergeant Mick Dee said he had liaised with State solicitor Brian Robinson and that Mr Ragalie should be put on his election as the alleged offence is a “hybrid offence”.
A hybrid offence is one that can be tried either in the District Court before a judge sitting alone, or on indictment in the Circuit Court before a judge and jury.
The decision on how it proceeds often depends on the seriousness of the alleged offence and directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
Sgt Dee noted that the DPP have directed that the matter be dealt with in the District Court.
Judge Kennedy refused the application to put the defendant on his election at this sitting, but indicated that he would do so at a later date. He remanded Mr Ragalie in custody to serve the remainder of his sentence, with consent to bail.