Warrant issued for sex offender who failed to come to court

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a sex offender who did not appear in court to answer a charge of failing to notify gardaí of his whereabouts.

David Hubbard (53) is accused of failing to notify gardaí of his address, as legally required.

Hubbard, with a current address at a hostel in Dublin city centre, is charged with breaching the Sex Offenders Act.

The offence is alleged to have happened on July 24, 2023.

Hubbard had originally appeared in Dublin District Court last year on the charge, and the case had been adjourned to give him time to consider how he intended to plead to it.

However, on his latest court date, Judge Monika Leech was told he was not present and she issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Previously, Garda Sergeant Maire McDevitt told Judge Bryan Smyth that the director of public prosecutions consented to the case being dealt with at district court level, subject to the issue of jurisdiction being considered.

Gda Sgt McDevitt outlined the allegation and Judge Smyth ­accepted jurisdiction, allowing the case to remain in the district court instead of being sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The judge ordered the prosecution to disclose evidence to the defence.

Mr Hubbard was not required to address the court during the last brief hearing and did not indicate how he intended to plead.

He had been remanded on continuing bail.

Under section 12 of the Sex Offenders Act, anyone subject to the requirements who fails to notify gardaí of their address can face a potential prison sentence of up to a year on summary conviction at the district court.

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