A 22-year old man has appeared before Dublin District Court charged in connection with the serious assault of an English tourist in Temple Bar in Dublin earlier this month.
Darragh O'Brien, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody with consent to bail if he provides an address and signs on daily at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
He was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged in the early hours of this morning with Section 3 assault causing harm. He made no reply after caution.
Today, at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Judge Monika Leech heard from Garda Colin Kyne-Delaney from Pearse Street Garda Station, who said that the injured party in the case, an English tourist, remains in an unstable and critical condition at Beaumont Hospital where he is in an induced coma.
Garda Kyne-Delaney said the injured party had exited a premises in Temple Bar in the early hours of 21 August and had initially got into a verbal altercation before the alleged assault took place.
He was knocked unconscious and emergency services were called at around 12.30am.
He was treated at the scene and was initially taken to St James's Hospital before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital due to the nature of his injuries.
Garda Kyne-Delaney said he was agreeable to bail on the basis that the accused signed on daily at Blanchardstown Garda station and stays out of the Dublin 2 area.
He must also have no contact with the injured party.
However, the court heard that he was no longer welcome at an address he had given to gardaí and he said he was only agreeable to these strict conditions if an address was provided.
Mr O'Brien's solicitor Holly Laher said she had canvassed her client who she said was currently couch surfing with friends.
He had no previous convictions and was resident in the State.
She said homelessness should not be a barrier to bail.
Having heard the evidence, Judge Leech said this was a very serious case.
She remanded the accused in custody with consent to bail and he will appear again before Cloverhill District Court on Friday at 11.30am.
Gardaí at Pearse Street are continuing to appeal for any witnesses to the incident.
