A man who was described as "quite dangerous" is making it impossible for a judge to sentence him on rape charges in the Central Criminal Court because he is either violent, drunk or in a state of undress.
Bereket Mekonnen (18), an Eritrean national of no fixed abode who was granted refugee status in August 2005 told Ms Justice Maureen Clark that he was "sick of his case" and wanted "it finished".
Ms Justice Clark replied: "The reason why there is a delay in sentencing you is because every time we try to sentence you, something happens. The last time you were in court you were violent because you said you had alcohol taken. Another time you refused to put on any clothes".
Mekonnen was found guilty last February of raping a 42-year- old woman at St Stephen's Green in August 2005. He was then registered as a sex offender.
In his last appearance on November 26th, before Ms Justice Clark sat in court, Mekonnen had to be carried kicking and screaming from court. He had become so aggressive that it eventually it took six prison officers to restrain him.
After his removal, the judge said she understood Mekonnen had "presented difficulties for the prison officers and was too dangerous to bring to court".
She is examining his refugee status at the consent of Mekonnen's legal team. She said she wanted to finalise sentence before the end of term and adjourned the matter for mention later. She reassured Mekonnen she would finalise sentence at the next court date.
Mekonnen met his victim in a disco-bar where she was drunk. She drank some of his wine before leaving. He raped her while she was on her way home.