'Entire Jewish community' supports rabbi accused of performing illegal circumcision in Dublin, court hears
Two days later, the father of 10, a British citizen, was denied District Court bail, but he lodged a fresh application which opened before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor in the High Court in Cloverhill on Tuesday
The "entire Jewish community stands fairly and squarely" behind a London-based rabbi awaiting trial accused of performing an illegal circumcision on a baby boy in Dublin, the High Court has heard.
Jonathan Abraham, 47, was arrested in Dublin on July 30 and charged with performing a surgical procedure, male circumcision on a child, without being a registered medical practitioner at an address in Dublin 15.
Two days later, the father of 10, a British citizen, was denied District Court bail, but he lodged a fresh application which opened before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor in the High Court in Cloverhill on Tuesday.
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The defence proposed a suite of bail conditions, including a bond and a combination of independent sureties totalling €100,000, to secure his release pending trial.
After hearing evidence and submissions and receiving testimonials and an affidavit from the accused, Ms Justice O'Connor adjourned ruling on the application until Thursday.
Detective Garda Megan Furey said the offence, contrary to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, could result in a maximum fine of €130,000 and five years imprisonment at the Circuit Court level.
Detective Garda Furey said there was strong evidence in support of the charge. Gardai entered an address in Dublin 15 with the homeowners' consent.
According to the detective, they observed the accused "dressed in a white robe, a doctor's-like gown, with blue gloves and a scalpel in his hand."
The court heard there was a table in the middle of the room with a changing pad, scissors and other medical supplies and implements. "Gardai at this time also observed a very young child on the changing pad naked," she said.
There were three babies, including a set of twins, aged between three and six weeks, in the house, but only one circumcision involving removal of the penis foreskin of an 18-day-old baby boy had taken place.
That infant was brought to a hospital as a precautionary measure.
The babies present when gardai arrived were from Muslim and Christian backgrounds, the court heard.
There was a set of twins whose mother had asked him through his website to perform the circumcision. The court heard his fees were £70 for travel, £350 for each child with a €70 discount for twins.
The detective said Mr Abraham was not a medical practitioner in Ireland, and she raised flight risk concerns. She said he flew into Dublin around midday and booked a 7pm return flight for the same date.
She also thought he was entitled to an Israeli passport, but the court later heard he only had a UK passport.
The rabbi's wife, sister, and brother came to the hearing and watched the proceedings from the public gallery.
Defence barrister Ronan Kennedy SC (instructed by solicitor Michael Staines SC) furnished the court with testimonials.
They came from doctors, lawyers and leading figures in the Jewish community in London.
The court heard his family, including his elderly parents, depended on him and his being in prison in Ireland, where he is in solitary confinement had caused them hardship and anxiety.
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