A man was stabbed in the face after he was pinned to the ground by three attackers armed with a knife, a nail, and a stick in central Dublin, a court heard.
Jeffrey Kelly, 44, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, is accused of attacking Joseph Morgan, who suffered “life-changing injuries” on September 10th. Mr. Kelly appeared at Dublin District Court but had bail denied by Judge Catherine Ghent on Saturday. Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said his client denies the allegations.
Mr. Kelly has been charged with assault causing harm to Mr. Morgan, who is also in his 40s and from Blanchardstown. On conviction, the offence is punishable by a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Citing the seriousness of the case, Garda Paul Cummins alleged Mr. Morgan was stabbed in the face at around 10 a.m. outside a drug treatment centre on Spring Garden Lane, Dublin 2. Garda Cummins said he arrived at the scene and observed medics treating Mr. Morgan, who had a number of deep lacerations to his face. He was then taken to St. James’s Hospital.
The complainant reported that he had been attacked by three males with a knife, nail, and stick, and that these weapons were used during the assault. CCTV footage capturing the incident was collected from several locations, which the Garda described as being of excellent quality.
Garda Cummins told the court that the case against Mr. Kelly was that he struck the victim first, causing him to fall. It was alleged that the assault was premeditated and targeted, with Mr. Morgan pinned down on the ground. He suffered deep lacerations above his left eye, on his forehead, below his right eye, on the side of his head beside his ear, and on the top of his head, all requiring stitches. He also suffered facial bruising.
The accused was searched a day later in the city centre and found to be in possession of a wooden spike with a blood-stained substance on it. Gardai believe the spike was used in the assault, and it has been dispatched for technical analysis.
On Friday, Mr. Kelly was arrested and detained for an interview; however, he made no comment. It is believed he was wearing the same clothing as during the incident, Garda Cummins said. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and further charges will be sought.
It was also alleged that the incident was witnessed by a manager at the treatment centre. The Garda also expressed concerns about possible witness interference.
Mr. Kelleher disputed that his client was identifiable by distinctive features, arguing that the quality of the footage depicted a person in generic clothing and a baseball cap. Garda Cummins agreed the cap was worn, but maintained that the accused was easily tracked in the CCTV footage by his clothing and identified from his facial features.
Mr. Kelleher submitted that the cap obscured the person’s face; however, the Garda contended that it was not pulled down over the face. The solicitor also pointed out that his client made no admissions, denies the allegations, and could be in custody on remand until trial, which is unlikely to be heard before 2027 in the Circuit Court.
He argued that the key facts under the Bail Act for denying bail in extreme circumstances had not been established in this case. He also stressed that his client is a man of modest means, had no reason to be near the area, and had never been in prison custody before. Legal aid was granted to the accused, who is unemployed.
Judge Ghent refused bail and remanded Mr. Kelly in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next week.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/man-stabbed-in-face-after-being-pinned-to-ground-in-premeditated-attack-in-dublin-court-hears-1809346.html
