A 19-YEAR-OLD Co Meath man accused of driving his car directly at the door of a crowded Co Monaghan nightclub was remanded on bail at Carrickmacross District Court yesterday.
James Smith, of Moate View, Nobber, who had been thrown out of the club earlier in the night, appeared on a charge of causing public endangerment.
He was also charged with driving without insurance and not having a driving licence at Main Street, Carrickmacross, on November 16th last year.
Garda Inspector Fintan McTiernan, who is prosecuting the case, told Judge Seán MacBride that Mr Smith had been ejected from Fiddlers nightclub in Carrickmacross after a scuffle earlier in the night.
Mr Smith then got into a car and did several hand-brake turns on the street before facing the car towards the nightclub and driving towards a bouncer who had ejected him.
Insp McTiernan said the vehicle ended up on the footpath but did not actually make contact with the building. However, the doorman had to jump out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.
He said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case be dealt with in the District Court.
However, having heard the evidence, Judge MacBride said that, owing to the seriousness of the offence, he would not be happy dealing with it.
“This was a wilful, deliberate attempt to cause serious injury or death, and should be dealt with before a judge and jury in the Circuit Court,” he said.
Judge MacBride remanded Mr Smith on bail to June 16th, with a condition that he sign on weekly at a local Garda station.