A London-based rabbi, charged with carrying out an illegal circumcision on a baby boy in Dublin, has been granted bail by the Irish High Court after nearly three weeks in custody.
Rabbi Jonathan Abraham, 47, was released on bail after Justice Karen O’Connor ruled that he did not pose a flight risk.
Abraham, a father of ten from North London, was arrested on July 30 in Dublin.
He faces accusations of performing a circumcision on a child at a Dublin residence without being a registered medical practitioner, a charge under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.
His initial bail application was denied by the District Court, leading to a fresh appeal in the High Court.
During the High Court hearing, the prosecution expressed concerns that Abraham might not return for his trial due to the severity of the charges.
However, the defense offered a set of stringent bail conditions, including a €50,000 bond raised by the Jewish community and an additional €10,000 surety provided by Ireland’s Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder.
Justice O’Connor acknowledged the financial and emotional strain that the rabbi’s detention had placed on his family and ruled in favor of granting bail, citing the lack of sufficient evidence that he would evade trial.
Rabbi Abraham, a trained mohel and a member of the Initiation Society—a historic Anglo-Jewish organization founded in 1745—had performed circumcisions in the UK but faced prosecution in Ireland for the first time under these circumstances.
The court was told that Abraham had been invited to perform the circumcision by the family of an 18-day-old baby boy, who had contacted him through his website.
Detective Garda Megan Furey provided testimony during the hearing, detailing the circumstances of Abraham’s arrest.
Gardaí entered the Dublin residence with the homeowners’ consent and discovered Abraham, dressed in a white robe and holding a scalpel, preparing to perform the circumcision on a baby lying on a changing pad. While there were three babies present, only one circumcision had been performed, and the child was subsequently taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Justice O’Connor allowed Abraham to return to the UK under several strict bail conditions. These included carrying a mobile phone, reporting weekly to a local garda station, and avoiding any contact with witnesses.
He is not required to remain in Ireland while awaiting trial, which may not take place for up to two years.
If convicted, the charges against Abraham could result in a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of €130,000 if the case is heard in the Circuit Court. A preliminary hearing is set for September in the District Court.
