A London-based rabbi accused of travelling to Ireland to perform an illegal circumcision on a young child was arrested in Dublin on Tuesday, July 10, and has been refused bail.
The rabbi is charged with carrying out a surgical procedure, male circumcision on a child, without being a registered medical practitioner, reports the Roscommon Herald.
According to Detective Garda Megan Furey, there is strong evidence in support of the charge. They observed the accused „dressed in a white robe, a doctor’s-style coat, with blue gloves and a scalpel in his hand”. Gardaí entered an address in Dublin 15 just after 1 pm on Tuesday with the homeowners’ consent. There was a table in the middle of the room with a changing pad, scissors and other medical supplies and implements. The detective said that they saw a very young child on the changing pad naked, adding that they established that a circumcision procedure had already been carried out on another child at the premises.
Detective Furey said the offence, contrary to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, could result in a maximum fine of €130,000 and five years’ imprisonment. Mr Jonathan Abraham appeared before Judge Michael Connellan at Dublin District Court on Thursday, August 1.
In later exchanges with the defence, the detective agreed that the accused had not held himself out to be a doctor, and she accepted that he was a rabbi.
Defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden said his client was a member of the Initiation Society, which governs the practice or procedures of the Jewish faith, specifically circumcisions. It is the oldest Anglo-Jewish organisation, founded in 1745. In the Jewish community, only a Mohel could perform such procedures, and as a registered Mohel, Mr. Abraham was insured to do them and had done so for more than 13 years. He was fully trained medically and ethically to perform them.
Mr Van Eeden submitted that if his client had performed the same procedures in England, it would have been completely legal. However, the judge pointed out that it was a separate jurisdiction.
The solicitor said that his client could face a lengthy period in custody and added that a €5,000 independent surety could be offered, and Mr Abraham would obey conditions not to perform such procedures in Ireland.
Judge Connellan refused bail due to the seriousness of the case, potential flight risk and strength of evidence. Legal aid was granted to the accused, who was remanded in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Mr Abraham has yet to enter a plea and will appear again on August 6 at Cloverhill District Court.
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