Two Republic of Ireland soccer players were remanded on bail at Dublin District Court yesterday charged with a number of offences including causing criminal damage to a garda's car.
Phil Babb and Mark Kennedy were arrested at Harcourt Street in Dublin by Garda Elaine Farrell at 3.45 a.m. yesterday and taken to Harcourt Terrace Garda station, where they were each charged with three offences.
They were charged with being intoxicated in a public place to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that they might endanger themselves or another in their vicinity, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994; using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994; and without lawful excuse committing damage to a car the property of Garda Farrell, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991.
Garda Farrell gave evidence of arresting the men and said they were charged in her presence by Garda Sgt Tom McKeown.
She said Kennedy made no reply to the charges after caution. She handed him a copy of the charges.
The garda said Babb replied "OK, fine" to one charge and made no reply to the others. She also gave him a copy of the charges.
The defendants sat side by side with their arms folded during the short hearing before Judge William Earley. They chatted to each other and smiled. The manager of the Irish soccer squad, Mick McCarthy, and team physiotherapist Mick Byrne sat at the back of the crowded court for the proceedings.
Garda Farrell told the judge neither defendant resided in the State, but she had no objection to bail provided a substantial sum of cash was lodged in court. She asked for the men to be remanded to appear at Dublin District Court on November 13th.
Mr Andrew Walker, solicitor for the two, had no objection.
The defendants were given bail on their own surety of £600, one-third of which had to be lodged in court, and on an independent surety of £750 in cash.
The case was let stand for a short period while arrangements were made for the money to be lodged in court. Babb and Kennedy left the courtroom.
Shortly after noon the defendants reappeared and Garda Sgt Albert Bell took the stand. He confirmed to the judge that the bail money was available to be lodged in court. Babb and Kennedy left to lodge the money and after about 10 minutes returned to confirm the signatures on the bail bonds were theirs.
The judge warned them that if they failed to appear in court on November 13th they were liable to lose the bail money.