A second man has been remanded in custody after being accused of attacking two off duty gardaí in Dublin’s Temple Bar during an incident which left one of the officers in a critical condition in hospital.
Kevin Murphy (34) with an address at North Frederick Street, Dublin 1, was charged with assault causing harm to the two men at Eustace Street, Dublin 2, in the early hours of Saturday.
He is also accused of robbing the more severely wounded man of his phone and wallet containing his cards.
The accused, an unemployed man who has yet to indicate a plea, appeared before Judge Paul Murphy at Dublin District Court on Thursday.
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Detective Sergeant Paul Traynor told the court that Mr Murphy was arrested at 7pm on Saturday at Westmoreland Street in the city centre and detained at Pearse Street station under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act.
At midnight, Mr Murphy took a rest period, and gardaí extended the detention. However, following a medical examination on Sunday, he was sent to the hospital for attention.
He was returned to the Garda station on Wednesday morning, and his detention recommenced.
The station chief superintendent extended the detention period until 10.46pm at which Mr Murphy was charged and “made no reply” when the offences were put to him.
Detective Sergeant Traynor confirmed that he needed to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Murphy, wearing a navy sweater and grey tracksuit bottoms, did not address the court. His defence solicitor, Peter Connolly, said there was no application for bail at this stage, and he was reserving his position.
Judge Murphy remanded the accused in custody to appear again on Monday at the same court. She said he was a suitable candidate for legal aid, which was granted.
She also directed that he get an appropriate medical assessment in custody.
On Tuesday, Johnathan O’Neill (32), with an address at Cromcastle Road, Kilmore, Dublin, who faces identical charges, was denied bail. In that hearing, Detective Sergeant Paul Carney alleged two men had been making their way home at 1.30am on Saturday when two males attacked them.
That bail hearing was told that both men were knocked to the ground unconscious outside a pizzeria; one of them remains in hospital in critical condition and has undergone surgery twice.
It was alleged the second man, who has been discharged, suffered a concussion and cuts to his face and lip.
The court heard gardaí conducted an extensive investigation and obtained CCTV showing two men fleeing and remaining in the area for two hours following the incident.
However, the court heard there was no video evidence of the alleged assault.
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