Five men have appeared in court charged in connection with holding a man down and branding the word RAT on his face and body earlier this year.
The five are 45-year-old Kenneth Fitzsimons and his son 24-year-old son Dean Fitzsimons, both from Castlecurragh Vale in Blanchardstown, along with 29-year-old Jason Hennessy, 28-year old Devon Hennessy and 22-year-old Brandon Hennessy, each with an address at Sheephill Avenue in Blanchardstown.
The DPP has directed trial on indictment.
The five men were brought before Clover Hill District Court this morning.
Already in custody they were previously refused bail on charges of assault causing serious harm and false imprisonment along with charges of producing an article in the course of a dispute.
Today they were charged with organised crime offences in connection with an alleged attack on a man on 12 February this year, whereby it is alleged he was attacked, held down and the word RAT branded on his face and torso.
Devon Hennessy and Kenneth Fitzsimons are accused of preparing the man for "branding the word RAT to his face and torso" by assaulting him.
Brandon Hennessy is accused of holding the man down while the word was branded on him, while Jason Hennessy and Dean Fitzsimons are accused of branding the word RAT on the victim's face and body.
All the offences are alleged to have been committed to enhance the ability of a criminal organisation contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
Sergeant Emma Ryan from Blanchardstown Garda Station told the court that all five made no reply to the charge.
The District Court is precluded from granting bail on these charges and Judge Alan Mitchell remanded all five in custody to appear again in Clover Hill District Court this day week.
