A 51-year-old man charged with stabbing a tourist at Dublin Airport last week has been refused bail and held in custody.
Kasonga Mbuyi, with an address at a hostel on Clare Street in Co Limerick, was charged with assault causing harm, unlawful possession of a penknife as a weapon and with carrying an article with intent to cause injury.
The incident occurred outside the Departures Lounge at Terminal 1 last Sunday.
At Dublin District Court today, Judge John Campbell refused Mr Mbuyi bail and held him in custody until he appears at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday.
Detective Garda Cathal Connolly told the court that Mr Mbuyi made no reply to the assault charge, but responded "I was looking for help" to the weapons offences.
The court heard that the German national suffered eight wounds to his left arm and body, requiring 12 stitches. He has since been discharged from hospital.
Det Garda Connolly objected to bail, citing flight risk concerns.
He agreed with defence solicitor Tracy Horan that the accused said he was seeking help.
The court heard Mr Mbuyi was recently made homeless from an address in Limerick, where he had lived for seven years.
The solicitor said her client had sought assistance, but none was available, and the incident "was a cry for help" and isolated.
Pleading for bail, she said he had Irish citizenship since 2014, but was "driven to despair" and "just broke", which the garda witness accepted.
Ms Horan said Mr Mbuyi would abide by strict conditions and submitted that refusing bail could lead to a lengthy period in custody.
A file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions with a recommendation that he face trial on indictment at a higher level, which can impose sentences of up to five years for the offences.
Judge Campbell denied bail and remanded Mr Mbuyi in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Wednesday. Legal aid was granted.
