A man appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with a protest he made at the Football Association of Ireland offices on Wednesday last.
Mark Kavanagh (34), Oakland Park, Cox's Demesne, Dundalk, Co Louth, was charged with engaging in behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace at FAI headquarters, Merrion Square, Dublin.
Mr Kavanagh, a Dundalk FC supporter, allegedly threatened to set himself on fire after pouring petrol over himself and on furniture in the FAI reception area. He was protesting over the FAI acceptance of the decision of an independent assessment group to award Galway United a place in the 2007 premier division ahead of his club. He gave up the protest after a meeting with Dundalk manager John Gill.
In Dublin District Court yesterday, Garda Niall Murray said he had no objection to the continuation of bail that was granted to him on Wednesday. However, he would be seeking a condition that he stay away from Merrion Square. Defence solicitor Conor MacGuill said he had no difficulty with such a condition.
Judge Bryan Smyth applied a new bond of €300. He ordered that Mr Kavanagh stay away from Merrion Square and from the FAI offices in particular. He remanded him on bail to appear again on January 12th.