Assault charge dropped against man accused of violent disorder linked to Qayyum Balogun attack
Tom Tuite
An assault charge has been withdrawn from a business student accused of violent disorder connected to an attack on music promoter Qayyum Balogun, who died after a stabbing in Dublin.
Joshua Brodericks (25), a former Atlantic Technological University student with an address of Gleann Dara, Rahoon, Galway, appeared again at Dublin District Court on Friday, having been admitted to conditional bail last week.
Balogan (21) died after being "relentlessly" chased by a pack of 14 and stabbed in an unprovoked attack in Dublin city centre, it has been alleged.
He was found fatally injured on Clarendon Street following a late-night rap concert at Bewley’s on Grafton Street.
The computer science student at Maynooth, originally from Nigeria and living in Co Louth, was found in the early hours of June 1 on nearby Clarendon Street and was treated by emergency services at the scene and rushed to St James’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Broderick was charged with two counts of assault causing harm to a man (24), who was a friend of the deceased, and a 22-year-old Co Cork woman at Grafton Street, Dublin 2, on June 1st, 2022.
He also had two violent disorder charges alleging that he and "persons unknown" used or threatened to use of unlawful violence that would cause others to fear for their safety, at Grafton St and Clarendon Street.
However, the assault charge against the woman was dropped on Friday.
Judge Mark O'Connell remanded him on continuing bail on the remaining charges to appear again on September 18th, next for gardaí to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
At a bail hearing last week, Garda William McCarthy described the incidents as a "frenzied rampage" and alleged Brodericks led a pack of 14, which chased the deceased and instigated the attack carried out by six people.
He alleged that Joshua Broderick was centrally involved.
The court heard that several suspects have yet to be arrested.
The garda had alleged that the accused and his group, who stayed at a rented accommodation in Dublin 4, attended a bank holiday gig and had after-party tickets.
Garda McCarthy alleged Brodericks appeared to bump into a person on the stairs, causing a verbal argument.
The court heard that Brodericks was at first a peacemaker between his associates and the other eventgoer, separating the pair, but he allegedly became aggressive and was put out of the venue.
Qayyum Balogun, who had no interaction with them beforehand, was allegedly chased by a pack led by the accused, but he fell and was set on by six people.
It was claimed that a number of his associates produced and used knives while attacking Qayyum Balogun.
Garda McCarthy said that while it was not believed that Brodericks used a weapon himself, it is alleged that he was physically involved with Qayyum Balogun during the entirety of the incident.
The court heard that Qayyum Balogun fought for his life and tried to escape, but was surrounded by the group who were simultaneously holding him and assaulting him.
It was alleged that Brodericks later instigated violence against Oreoluwa Amosu (24), from Cork and a friend of the deceased, in the doorway of the Doc Marten shop on Grafton Street.
