Algerian man used fake French passport to enter Ireland, Tullamore court hears

A 35-year-old Algerian national gave gardaí a false name after entering Ireland on a forged French passport. He has numerous convictions in France, including two sexual offences.

Algerian man with false passport and multiple aliases faces theft charges in Tullamore

The Irish Times reports that an Algerian national who entered Ireland using a fake French passport subsequently gave a garda a false name when arrested over an alleged theft, Tullamore District Court heard on Thursday.

Boujuma Mohammed Shawky (35), of no fixed abode, appeared before Judge Michael Connellan regarding an alleged theft of AirPods at Thurles train station car park on 26 June, as well as a bench warrant connected to an alleged trespass at a building in Dublin 8.

Det Sgt John O'Brien gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution relating to the theft allegation. O'Brien said Shawky produced a false French passport, which Shawky claimed he had purchased in France. The name provided to O'Brien was Mohamed Boudoema — the same name that appeared on the bench warrant.

Shawky later claimed he had been drunk and afraid at the time he gave the false details.

Judge Connellan refused bail, saying he was not satisfied Shawky would return to court. Shawky told the court he had lost his Algerian identification along with his phone.

O'Brien said Shawky first applied for asylum in Ireland in 2018, but was refused. He also applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, purporting to be 17 years old, and was reported as a missing child in that jurisdiction. Shawky himself claimed he remained in Algeria until 2022 and flew from Spain to Dublin Airport in April 2024, at which point he applied for asylum for the first time. That application was refused and is currently under appeal.

Shawky told the court he had lived in Citywest and Swords in Dublin, as well as with a friend renting in Arklow, Co Wicklow, and said he receives a weekly social welfare allowance of €38.

The alleged trespass took place on 29 May 2025 at 9 Lennox Street, Dublin 8. It is alleged his entry to the property gave rise to the reasonable inference of an intent to commit an offence or to unlawfully interfere with property.

Shawky has been in custody since 2 July in relation to separate offences, for which he gave yet another different name, and has been remanded on several occasions. Sgt Richard Thornton told the court the State was not in a position to advance those charges, having only become aware of Shawky's "true identity" on Thursday morning, describing it as a hindrance. Judge Connellan struck out those charges.

Although Shawky has no convictions recorded in Ireland, the court heard he carries a large number of convictions in France, including two sexual offences and one aggravated burglary. The theft and bench warrant matters were adjourned.

Source: Irish Times