A young Nigerian woman arrested at a Galway lap-dancing club last week said she feared for her life if she co-operated with a Garda investigation.
Gardaí in Galway are still attempting to establish the true identity of the Nigerian woman arrested in a raid on Angels night-club in Salthill, Galway, as part of Operation Quest, the Garda raids on lap-dancing clubs around the country last week.
Ms Ese Osahon (20) has been in custody since her arrest last Thursday night.
She is charged with failing to produce a valid passport or identity papers, contrary to Section 6 of the Aliens Act 1935 as amended by the Immigration Act of 1999.
She appeared before Galway District Court yesterday, where her solicitor, Ms Joan O'Brien, said her client feared for her life.
Insp Noel Kelly objected to a bail application on the grounds that gardaí had been unable to properly establish the identity of the accused. She had failed to co-operate in any way, he said.
Garda Liam Creaven told Judge John O'Neill that the accused had given three different names since her arrest.
The woman told gardaí she arrived in Ireland on a direct flight from Lagos, but no such flight existed. She also said that she came into Ireland on a passport held by a man but she would not reveal his identity.
Garda Creaven told the court he had no way of establishing the woman's true identity without her co-operation, but she was failing to offer any assistance.
Ms O'Brien pointed out that her client had told her she had left Nigeria because she was in fear of her life. "My client is a victim of circumstances and simply a pawn in a much bigger picture. Her passport had been taken from her by somebody working in this business."
Judge O'Neill said if the defendant wanted to relieve her distress at being held in custody, she should co-operate with the Garda. He remanded her to appear at Galway District Court on June 25th.