A 61-year-old man has appeared in court charged with setting fire to a Luas tram burned out during riots in Dublin city centre last November.
John Tate, with an address at The Iveagh Trust, Kevin Street in Dublin, is accused of two counts of arson, two of violent disorder, and obstructing traffic at Parnell Street and O'Connell Street on 23 November.
He was brought before Dublin District Court yesterday evening where gardaí objected to bail due to what they described as the seriousness of the case.
Judge Stephanie Coggans set bail at €5,000 with strict conditions to live at his present address, surrender his passport and not to apply for a replacement, not to engage in online activity, provide gardaí with a contact phone number, not to participate in any demonstration or large gathering, and obey a 9pm-6am curfew.
Detective Sergeant Eoghan Byrne gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
He told the court that Mr Tate made no reply when he was charged at 3.15pm at Store Street station.
He described the disturbances in Dublin that day as "a mass riot" and "an unprecedented act of public disorder".
It is alleged Mr Tate "blocked" a Luas carrying passengers at O'Connell Street and caused it to come to a halt and to reverse.
The detective sergeant also claimed Mr Tate obstructed a bus carrying passengers, forcing it to stop and that he allegedly took part in violent disorder at the Parnell Street/O'Connell Street junction, where he passed a garda cordon.
He is accused of arson of a Luas tram on O'Connell Street by setting fire to rubbish bags.
Judge Sephanie Coggans was also told the accused allegedly threw missiles and tried to open the rear door of a patrol van causing gardaí to leave the area.
Mr Tate was also granted free legal aid and remanded to appear in court again next Tuesday.
