A man has claimed he was acting in self-defence when he used a hammer to strike a 59-year-old resident at an apartment complex in Dundrum, Dublin, reports Breaking News.
Nathan Haines (29), who currently lives at a hostel on New Cabra Road, Dublin, has been charged with assault causing harm and producing an object capable of causing serious injury during an incident at Rosemount Court on Tuesday.
When he appeared before Dublin District Court on Tuesday, bail was set at €1,500, reports Breaking News.
Detective Garda Liam Magee opposed bail. He told Judge Cephas Power that the accused had a cousin living in the unit beneath the injured man’s apartment.
He claimed that there was a confrontation and that the victim was attacked in the hallway outside the apartment, stating he “was struck with a hammer to his head and body and kicked a number of times and punched”. CCTV footage was collected as evidence, reports Breaking News.
The victim sustained several injuries, including lacerations and a broken scapula.
Detective Garda Magee expressed concerns about the possibility of witness intimidation and risks to the injured party’s safety.
Mr Haines was apprehended at the scene, reports Breaking News.
When questioned by defence counsel Garrett Casey, the detective acknowledged that Mr Haines alleged the other man had come at him first with the hammer. The court heard the accused claimed he managed to take the weapon and then acted in self-defence.
However, the detective did not accept this version of events, saying that CCTV showed Mr Haines was safe inside an apartment before leaving and launching the assault on the complainant, reports Breaking News.
Mr Casey argued that it could take over a year for the case to go to trial.
Challenging the assertion that Mr Haines was of no fixed abode, Mr Casey told the court his client had accommodation on Dublin’s north side, far from the location of the incident. He also pointed out that Mr Haines had no history of breaching bail conditions, reports Breaking News.
Judge Power set a bond of €500 and required a €1,000 independent surety before bail could be granted.
Mr Haines was given legal aid and remanded in custody with consent to bail. He is due to appear again at Cloverhill District Court next week, reports Breaking News.
If released, he must comply with a 10pm to 7am curfew, avoid any contact with witnesses, carry a mobile phone for Garda contact, stay away from Dundrum, and report daily to a Garda station.
Directions from the DPP still need to be secured, reports Breaking News.
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