Man (20s) in court over large ‘violent disorder’ in Dublin

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A man has appeared in Dublin District Court charged in connection with violent disorder in which another man was put into intensive care.

The court heard that gardaí were called to the “large-scale disturbance” in which several men were involved in a “violent altercation” involving “lethal weapons” in Leopardstown, Dublin 18, at around 8.25pm on Friday.

A man, aged in his 20s, received serious injuries and was taken to Beaumont Hospital for “emergency medical treatment” where he remains on life support in the intensive care unit.

Two other men, aged in their 20s, were brought to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment of injuries described as “significant” but non-life-threatening.

Augustin Rostas, age 22, with an address at Convent Place, Dublin 2, was charged with committing violent disorder with two other people by using or threatening to use unlawful violence that would cause another to fear for their safety.

Assisted by a Romanian interpreter, he appeared before Judge Stephanie Coggins at Dublin District Court on Monday.

Prosecuting Garda Sinead Galligan gave details of the arrest and caution of the accused.

She said he had made no reply to the charge under caution.

The court was told that the violent altercation occurred at an abandoned premises at South County Business Park where they had established around 15 people – understood to be members of the Roma community – had been residing for months.

She said Rostas, accompanied by three associates, had attended the building “for the stated purpose of collecting personal property from persons residing there”.

She said a “verbal dispute developed between two groups of males” and added that this “escalated rapidly” into a “serious and sustained physical confrontation” involving the defendant, his associates, and four males who were occupying the premises.

Galligan said CCTV footage showed multiple males engaged in a “violent physical confrontation”, adding that it was “of particular concern” that this involved several weapons and weapons including poles, sticks and shovels.

She said “lethal weapons” were involved in the assault.

Galligan added that the CCTV footage showed Rostas “actively participating” in the altercation by striking another man several times before leaving the scene.

She said the footage also showed another male striking an injured man twice in the head with a shovel.

Galligan said this rendered the injured party, who is now on life support, unconscious with “catastrophic” and “potentially fatal” injuries.

She said the garda investigation surrounding the incident and the circumstances of the initial verbal dispute remain ongoing.

Ms Galligan also told the court said a male injured in the incident, who has since been discharged from hospital, had notified gardaí that they had received threatening phone calls.

She said this was alleged to have included being told “this is not the end of it” and “your brother is next”.

In objecting to bail, Ms Galligan said the accused had been arrested by gardaí at the scene an hour after the incident and told the court he had identified himself on CCTV and made admissions about assaulting other persons involved.

She said his position was that he acted in self-defence.

In questioning garda objections to bail, Rostas – who said he worked in construction – also told the court he had been defending himself.

Ms Justice Galligan told the accused she was prepared to grant bail on “strict conditions”.

These included being contactable at all times, surrendering travel documents, staying away from all witnesses and/or co-accused, abiding by a curfew between 11pm-7am, and signing on to Mountjoy Garda Station three times a week.

He was also told bail could be granted on his own bond of 3,000 euro with a lodgement of 1,000 euro in cash due.

The accused said his solicitor was not appearing in court due to the ongoing dispute and withdrawal of services over fees.

The charge of violent disorder carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

Rostas was remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison with consent to bail until Friday.

The judge said he could receive bail if he raised the required cash, surrendered his passport, and provided a verifiable address and mobile number to gardaí

The charge of violent disorder carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.