A 27-year-old man was arrested for carrying a flick-knife following a standoff with armed gardaí at a Dublin shop and a confrontation amid allegations of a stabbing, reports Breaking News.
Afghan national Nasim Sulemankhil, who has no fixed address, appeared before Dublin District Court charged with unlawful possession of a knife described as capable of causing serious injury or incapacitating a person, on Cathal Brugha Street on April 24th, reports Breaking News.
Footage of the incident was shared on social media.
Bail was refused when he appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Saturday, reports Breaking News.
Citing the seriousness of the case, Store Street Garda Eoin Hart told a contested bail hearing that Sulemankhil’s reply to caution was “I don’t do anything, they attacked me”.
When charged with the weapon, he told gardaí: “I was beaten by the knife, it is on CCTV [sic]”, reports Breaking News.
He followed the proceedings with the assistance of a Pashto interpreter.
The court heard that the incident took place at around 12:50 pm at a Centra shop, where gardaí were alerted by members of the public reporting a knife attack, reports Breaking News.
The court was told that a large crowd had gathered, while a Garda armed support unit attended the scene.
It was alleged to gardaí that the accused had stabbed or attempted to stab someone before being pursued to the entrance of the shop, reports Breaking News.
Members of the public reportedly intervened by striking him with umbrellas and throwing objects at him.
However, defence counsel Kevin McCrave told gardaí that his client maintained he was being chased and had acted in self-defence, reports Breaking News.
Garda Hart said investigations into the alleged stabbing were ongoing, and gardaí had not yet confirmed whether anyone had been attacked with the knife.
The court heard that the man later dropped the knife and was taken into custody, with Garda Hart noting that the accused could not provide an address, reports Breaking News.
The defence barrister said his client had been living in Ireland for three years and had family in the city centre who attended the hearing and offered him accommodation.
Counsel told the garda that his client would comply with strict bail conditions and added that the accused’s mother had recently died and he had been experiencing mental health difficulties, reports Breaking News.
Judge Finan stressed that the accused, who had a bandage on his head, is entitled to the presumption of innocence but refused bail.
She agreed to a request from Mr McCrave to direct that he receive a psychological assessment and appropriate interventions while in custody, reports Breaking News.
Legal aid was granted to Sulemankhil, who did not address the court. His next appearance is scheduled for Thursday at Cloverhill District Court.
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