DUBLIN: A University College Dublin (UCD) lecturer has been sent forward for trial after a District Court heard allegations that he hacked into students’ online accounts and unlawfully accessed their personal information.
Archaeology lecturer Dr Stephen Davies, 53, faces approximately 150 charges, including harassment and offences relating to unauthorised access to information systems. He has not entered a guilty plea.
Judge Karen Dowling transferred the case to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for trial. The matter is due to return to court on January 30.
The judge also directed the prosecution to notify the defence within 14 days if it intends to rely on an alibi issue. In addition, the court ordered that copies of video-recorded Garda interviews with the accused be provided to the defence.
Davies remains on bail and has surrendered his passport. He is required to report to his local Garda station twice a week and must comply with all previously imposed bail conditions. The court also reminded him not to enter the library in Bray.
Students’ passwords allegedly stolen
The principal allegations against the 53-year-old lecturer are that he used specialist software to obtain students’ passwords and gain unauthorised access to their accounts.
The prosecution told the court that approximately 50 students were allegedly subjected to harassment, while more than 100 others were affected by the alleged offences.
The case follows an investigation by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which began in 2023 after allegations emerged that malware had been used to access student accounts without authorisation.
Davies faces charges under various provisions of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act and the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017, according to the allegations outlined in court. The investigation reportedly uncovered evidence of unauthorised access to information systems through the circumvention of security measures.
The alleged offences took place at various times during 2023 at UCD’s Belfield campus, university offices and the accused’s residence in Bray, County Wicklow.
The prosecution is expected to provide the defence with relevant evidence and documentation in accordance with the procedures governing the case.
Approximately 150 charges
Detective Garda Colin Noonan previously told the court that Davies faced more than 50 counts of harassment and over 90 charges relating to unauthorised access to online accounts.
It is further alleged that software was used to obtain students’ passwords and access their accounts without permission. The alleged theft and misuse of personal information form a significant part of the prosecution’s case.
The proceedings are at a preliminary stage, and the allegations have yet to be tested at trial. Davies has not been convicted of any offence and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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