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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
John Hand

Two men charged with brutal assault on gardaí in Ballyfermot

Twomen have appeared in court charged with assault and violent disorder after two gardai were injured responding to an incident.

Anthony Grogan, of Cherry Orchard Park in Ballyfermot, and Steven Byrne, of Ballyfermot Avenue, were before judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court facing three charges under the public order act.

The men were remanded in custody with consent to bail.

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They were arrested following an incident at around 12.45am on Monday morning outside a pub in Ballyfermot, west Dublin.

The pair are charged with two counts of assaulting a garda and one charge of violent disorder each.

The court heard that there was CCTV of the incident in its entirety from a number of angles.

Judge Murphy told how the matters are of a “very serious nature” and if convicted, they face a significant custodial sentence.

But she said both of the accused were entitled to the presumption of innocence. The two men made no reply after being separately charged in Ballyfermot Garda Station when charged on Monday night and they were given true copies of the charge sheets.

Gardai objected to both men’s bail applications due to the seriousness of the charges.

Upon conviction the charges can carry sentences of five years for a section 19 assault and and ten years for the violent disorder rap.

Garda Philip Nash of Ballyfermot Garda station objected to 54-year-old Grogan’s bail. He told the court that the incident was “life altering” for the victims and for the suspect.

Garda Nash said the accused was identified at the scene and was arrested. He added that there was CCTV of the incident in its entirety.

Defence solicitor David Bassett told the court that his client had no bench warrant history and was not a flight risk. He said Grogan has deep ties with the community, is married and has five children.

Judge Murphy remanded Grogan in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €10,000. Half of this must be lodged in court and an independent surety of €5,000.

Grogan has to abide by a number of conditions if he takes up bail, including that he reside at his address, be in good behaviour and sign on daily at Ballyfermot Garda Station between 9am and 9pm.

A curfew of 11pm to 6am was also imposed while he is to give gardai a phone number to contact him on. He also has to surrender his passport and not apply for any more travel documents.

Mr Bassett also made an application for legal aid for his client saying Grogan was unemployed. Judge Murphy granted the request.

Grogan, wearing a navy top and denim jeans, was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court on November 29.

Garda Conor Dooley, also of Ballyfermot Garda Station, objected to co accused Byrne’s bail application.

The scene on the Ballyfermot Road, Dublin where two Gardai were hospitalised in the early hours of Monday morning after being attacked (Colin Keegan, Collins Agency)

The court heard that the 35-year-old, wearing a black tracksuit, is a father of three and works in pest control.

He too was remanded in custody with consent to bail on the condition he provides his own bond of €6,000, with a €3,000 lodgement as well as an independent surety of €10,000, half of which is to be lodged.

If he takes up bail, he must abide by a number of conditions imposed by Judge Murphy.

He is to be in good behaviour, reside at his address, sign on at Ballyfermot Garda Station and make no contact with his co-accused or any witness.

He will also have to surrender his passport and not apply for any more travel documents. He also has to remain sober in public places.

Legal aid was also granted in his case.

His case returns to Cloverhill District Court tomorrow.

Four people were arrested over the incident in the early hours of Monday morning as cops responded to a row at a pub.

A woman in her 50s has been charged and will appear before a court at a later date. Another man in his 40s, arrested on Monday afternoon, remains in custody.

The incident saw two gardai, a male and female, hospitalised.

The male officer suffered serious facial injuries and was given a number of stitches and staples.

Both gardai were discharged from St James’ hospital on Monday.

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