Latest news with #JudgeBrendanToale
BreakingNews.ie
16-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Teens accused of involvement in machine gun robbery released over lack of space
Lack of space at the State's main youth detention centre resulted in two Dublin teenagers accused of being armed with a machine gun during a burglary being freed at the weekend, it has emerged. One of the boys – released on Saturday night – failed to attend his next court hearing on Monday, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Advertisement The 17-year-old boys and two men had been refused bail on Saturday after a judge heard a 60-year-old man was "savagely" beaten in front of his terrified family when machine gun-armed intruders forced entry into their home in Shankill, Co Dublin, on June 11th. All four were charged with aggravated burglary and unlawful possession of a Czechoslovakian-made 9mm Skorpian machine pistol. Following their District Court appearance on Saturday, it transpired that the Oberstown Detention Campus in Dublin had no room to take the two youths despite the judge's decision. Habeas corpus Gardaí held them until their lawyers launched habeas corpus, a legal mechanism to challenge unlawful detention, in the High Court on Saturday night. That led to a temporary "workaround" order releasing the pair on bail and subject to "house arrest" until their appearance on Monday at the Children's Court. Advertisement The boys, from north Dublin, cannot be named because they are minors. On Monday, Judge Brendan Toale ordered gardaí to arrest the one who did not turn up. Noting there were still no remand beds available in the detention centre, he had to grant the co-accused teenager bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions· Judge Brendan Toale highlighted how the lack of room in the detention facility had become a constant problem for the courts. Advertisement "This whole situation arises where the lack of place in Oberstown is an ongoing difficulty; it has been going on certainly for the last six months at a high level when, more often than not, there are no beds available, and where there was a refusal of bail," he stated before he was forced to send the boy home. The teenager, who has yet to enter a plea, was accompanied to court by relatives and ordered to obey a 10pm – 6am curfew at his home, stay contactable by phone, remain out of the Shankill area, not contact witnesses, surrender his passport within 48 hours and not apply for alternative travel documents. He will appear again in four weeks. Adult co-defendants Sean Doran, 26, of Earl Street South and widower Gregory Dunne, 60, from Oliver Bond Flats, both in Dublin 8, were remanded in prison custody on Saturday and are back in court later this week. Advertisement Dublin District Court heard on Saturday that the Garda ballistics section stated the gun was "capable of full automatic firing", and the burglary and gun charges can carry possible life sentences. Mr Doran has an additional charge of assault causing harm to the 60-year-old homeowner, who suffered lacerations from blows to his face and head. Bail objections In bail objections, evidence stated that he, his wife, aged 63, and their 35-year-old son were in "grave fear" they would not remain in the house and had since moved to a hotel. At the bail hearings, Garda witnesses stated the four acted in joint enterprise. It was alleged that the two masked teens in puffer jackets travelled to the house on an e-bike while Mr Doran came in a 2007-reg Honda Accord car driven by Mr Dunne. Advertisement The teenager who showed up to court on Monday was said to have had a black face cover and approached the house. It was claimed that he removed the gun from the front of his trousers and "pointed" it at the family through the window. The proceedings were informed that the boys allegedly "forced" their way in the front door while Mr Doran came through a rear entrance before the homeowner was "savagely" beaten. Detective Garda Michael Murphy claimed Mr Doran delivered punches and kicks to the man's head and face, and there were bloodstains on the accused's footwear. Detective Garda Darragh Phelan said the second teenager used boxer shorts as a balaclava and left with the gun on an e-bike. A civilian witness was said to have observed him discarding it before he allegedly drove onto the M50, where he crashed between Junction 12 and 13 and was arrested. Ireland Anthony Nash asked Garda if she knows who he is wh... Read More That teenager failed to turn up for his hearing on Monday. The bail hearings were also informed that gardaí responded to a call from the couple's son, who was in a state of distress, saying, "A number of males were attacking his parents' home, and one had a gun; the male pointed the gun and directed it them". Gardaí testified that a commotion could be heard over the phone line. The car was stopped close nearby and armed support officers arrived and arrested three of the defendants.
Irish Times
16-06-2025
- Irish Times
Teens accused of Dublin machine gun raid freed due to lack of detention spaces
Lack of space at the State's main youth detention centre resulted in two Dublin teenagers accused of being armed with a machine gun during a burglary being freed at the weekend, it has emerged. One of the boys – released on Saturday night – failed to attend his next court hearing on Monday and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The two 17-year-olds and two men had been refused bail on Saturday after a judge heard a 60-year-old man was 'savagely' beaten in front of his terrified family when armed intruders forced entry into their home in Shankill, Co Dublin, on June 11th. All four were charged with aggravated burglary and unlawful possession of a Skorpion machine pistol. READ MORE Following their District Court appearance on Saturday, it transpired that the Oberstown Detention Campus in Dublin had no room to take the two youths despite the judge's decision. Gardaí held them until their lawyers launched habeas corpus, a legal mechanism to challenge unlawful detention, in the High Court on Saturday night. That led to a temporary 'workaround' order releasing the pair on bail and subject to 'house arrest' until their appearance on Monday at the Children's Court. The boys, from north Dublin, cannot be named because they are minors. On Monday, Judge Brendan Toale ordered gardaí to arrest the one who did not turn up. Noting there were still no remand beds available in the detention centre, he had to grant the co-accused teenager bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions· Judge Brendan Toale highlighted how the lack of room in the detention facility had become a constant problem for the courts. 'This whole situation arises where the lack of place in Oberstown is an ongoing difficulty; it has been going on certainly for the last six months at a high level when, more often than not, there are no beds available, and where there was a refusal of bail,' he said before sending the boy home. The teenager, who has yet to enter a plea, was accompanied to court by relatives and ordered to obey a 10pm – 6am curfew at his home, stay contactable by phone, remain out of the Shankill area, not contact witnesses, surrender his passport within 48 hours and not apply for alternative travel documents. He will appear again in four weeks. Co-defendants Sean Doran (26), of Earl Street South and Gregory Dunne (60), from Oliver Bond Flats, both in Dublin 8, were remanded in prison custody on Saturday and are due back in court later this week. Dublin District Court heard on Saturday that the Garda ballistics section stated the gun was 'capable of full automatic firing', and the burglary and gun charges can carry possible life sentences. Mr Doran has an additional charge of assault causing harm to the 60-year-old homeowner, who suffered lacerations from blows to his face and head. In bail objections, evidence stated that the homeowner, his wife, aged 63, and their 35-year-old son were in 'grave fear' they would not remain in the house and had since moved to a hotel.
BreakingNews.ie
10-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Court no show for teen after man's fingers hacked off in machete and ammonia attack
A judge has ordered the arrest of a 17-year-old boy who failed to answer bail over a machete, hammer and ammonia attack on a man who had two fingers "amputated" in Dublin last month. The youth, who cannot be named because he is a minor, is accused of assault causing harm to a man, aged 29, and burglary in Clondalkin, Dublin, on May 9th. He was granted bail with strict conditions on May 12th at the Dublin Children's Court but following four-week adjournment he did not return for his next scheduled hearing. Advertisement The case had been listed directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to be outlined. Noting the youth had not turned up, Judge Brendan Toale issued a bench warrant for his arrest. At his bail hearing last month, Garda Charles McPartland submitted that this case was on the more serious end of the scale for these offences and undoubtedly would proceed on indictment to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. He alleged that on May 9th, the injured party was pursued by multiple armed males through the Bawnogue area of Clondalkin. Advertisement He attempted to flee from them on foot until he ran into an independent third-party member of the public's home at Kilcronan View. The court heard that while running into the house, the injured man told the owner to ring gardaí and an ambulance, before he was followed into the property by three or four males. A 999 call from a witness alerted gardaí, who also received a second call believed to have been from the victim who seemed to be hyperventilating, the court heard. Garda McPartland said the house owner reported hearing the man inside shouting "leave me alone, leave me alone". Advertisement Objecting to bail, the investigating officer cited the seriousness of the case and the strength of evidence, which was said to have included CCTV footage from the area where the teen and others were looking for the man. Members of the group were alleged to have been carrying a machete or a claw hammer. The contested bail hearing was told that when the man fled into the house, he went into a child's upstairs bedroom where he was "violently assaulted, sustaining life-altering injuries". Judge Toale heard the injured party sustained two fingers, with his thumb and index finger on his left being cut off; his left middle finger was cut to the bone and "hanging on by skin only". Advertisement It was alleged he suffered a severe laceration to the back of his head, three more to his left leg and another three cuts to his left arm. The garda revealed that the injured party also had an acidic liquid, suspected to be ammonia, thrown over him during the assault. He was taken to hospital for immediate medical intervention, including surgery to attempt to re-attach his amputated fingers, which was unsuccessful. An examination of the scene showed blood in the child's room where the man had fled. The door handle on the inside had "snapped", and the outside handle was "bent out of shape", which Garda McPartland asserted was due to the force used to open the door. Advertisement An off-duty nurse who tried to assist the injured man afterwards also needed to go to hospital due to inhalation of airborne ammonia, the court was told. Questioned by defence barrister, Doireann McDonagh, instructed by solicitor Simon Fleming, Garda McPartland said three people had weapons, but the machete caused the injuries described. It was not alleged that the teenager had the machete. Judge Toale noted from the barrister's submission that the youth could face a lengthy period in custody and away from his family, awaiting trial. At the bail hearing his father told the judge he wanted his son to get back into education to complete the Leaving Certificate. Ireland Man's fingers hacked off in machete, hammer and am... Read More Counsel submitted that the teen would obey conditions and that there was no evidence he would be involved in witness intimidation. The judge set bail and ordered him to have no contact with witnesses, to obey an 11pm-6am curfew at his home, stay out of the housing estate where the incident occurred, and attend a youth service or education. The youth was warned that breaking the terms would result in custody. Two men have also been charged and face separate proceedings on connected charges.
