Two men charged with violent disorder and assaults on gardaí in Ballyfermot

Grandfather Anthony Grogan (54) and pest-worker Steven Byrne (35) to be held over incident outside pub until bail money lodged

Two men have been charged with violent disorder and assaults on two gardaí in Ballyfermot in Dublin. Photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times

Two men have been charged with violent disorder and assaults on two gardaí in Ballyfermot in Dublin.

Male and female officers were hospitalised after responding to a public order incident in the early hours of Monday outside a pub on the Ballyfermot Road.

Video footage of the incident was posted on social media and three men and a woman were later arrested in relation to the attack.

Anthony Grogan (54), of Cherry Orchard Park, and Steven Byrne (35), of Ballyfermot Avenue, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court charged with assaulting the officers and engaging in violent disorder. The court heard the men made no reply to the charges.

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Gardaí objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and fears the accused men could abscond.

Garda Philip Nash told a contested bail hearing that the “life-altering incident” was captured on CCTV. Defence solicitor David Bassett submitted that Mr Grogan had ties to the community, lived with his family and there was “no chance” of him absconding.

Judge Murphy said Mr Grogan faced serious charges but was entitled to the presumption of innocence and bail. The court granted legal aid to Mr Grogan, an unemployed grandfather. Judge Murphy set his bail in his bond of €10,000, of which half must be lodged, and she ordered a €5,000 independent surety be approved.

The Ballyfermot community held a rally in support of Gardai, after two members were assaulted and hospitalised outside a pub in the area.

Curfew

On taking up bail, he must sign on daily at a Garda station, obey a curfew, remain contactable by mobile phone, surrender his passport and not apply for new travel documents or leave the jurisdiction. Judge Murphy remanded him in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court on November 29th.

Colleen Gildernew, solicitor for Mr Byrne, explained that the father of three, a pest-control worker, would abide by bail conditions and had a supportive family. Judge Murphy granted him legal aid and set his bail at €6,000, of which he must lodge €3,000. She said he needed an independent surety of €10,000 with half to be paid.

The judge said Mr Byrne would have to abide by the same bail terms as Mr Grogan and have no contact with him. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday.

The woman in her 50s was arrested over the incident was released from garda custody on Monday and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.