Music promoter Qayyum Balogun fought for his life after being “relentlessly” pursued by a “14-man pack” before being fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack in Dublin city centre, a court has been told.
A 25-year-old man charged with violent disorder connected to the attack on Balogun and assaults on two other individuals at around 3am was granted €2,000 bail with conditions by Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court, reports Breaking News.
Balogun, aged 21, was found fatally injured on Clarendon Street following a late-night performance by rap artist Famous Pluto at Bewley’s on Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
The computer science student at Maynooth University, originally from Nigeria and living in Co Louth, was treated by emergency services at the scene before being rushed to St James’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, reports Breaking News.
Two days after the incident, Joshua Brodericks, a former Atlantic Technological University business student with an address at Gleann Dara, Rahoon, Galway, presented himself to Pearse Street Garda Station, having had his solicitor make prior contact with investigating officers.
Brodericks was charged with two counts of assault causing harm to Oreoluwa Amosu, aged 24, a friend of the deceased, and to 22-year-old Chloe Scannell at Grafton Street on 1 June 2022, reports Breaking News.
He also faces two violent disorder charges alleging that he and “persons unknown” used or threatened to use unlawful violence in a manner that would cause others to fear for their safety, at both Grafton Street and Clarendon Street.
He was remanded in custody with consent to bail, pending the lodgement of cash, and is due to appear again on 12 June at Cloverhill District Court, reports Breaking News.
Garda William McCarthy told Judge White that the accused made “no reply” when the charges were put to him, and confirmed there were objections to bail.
He described the incidents as a “frenzied rampage” and alleged Brodericks led a pack of 14 individuals who chased the deceased in an attack ultimately carried out by six people, reports Breaking News.
He voiced serious concerns that the accused would flee the country to rejoin other parties allegedly involved in the events of that night.
He alleged that Joshua Brodericks was centrally involved and that his actions were the catastrophic catalyst for the murder of an innocent man, reports Breaking News.
Defence solicitor Aonghus McCarthy asked the judge to direct the garda not to reference offences involving other injured parties not allegedly assaulted by his client, or make any reference to a murder.
In reply, the garda said the violent disorder had directly resulted in a man losing his life, and that he was murdered, adding that the investigation remained live and fluid, with several suspects yet to be arrested, reports Breaking News.
He alleged the accused and his group, who had been staying in rented accommodation in Dublin 4, attended a bank holiday concert and held after-party tickets.
Garda McCarthy alleged Brodericks and his associates socialised and consumed alcohol during the night, reports Breaking News.
During the evening, a close associate of Brodericks appeared to bump into another person on the stairs, prompting a verbal argument over the perceived slight.
The court was told Brodericks initially acted as a peacemaker between his associates and the other individual, separating the two parties, reports Breaking News.
However, Garda McCarthy alleged that Brodericks quickly became provocative and aggressive, with the other individual signalling to security for help, leading to Brodericks and his group being removed from the building to what was described as “their great frustration and annoyance.”
The court was told that they remained outside the front entrance in a clear state of intoxication and aggression, reports Breaking News.
Balogun, who had no prior interaction with the group, was preparing to leave with friends, one of whom had a history of negative encounters with some members of Brodericks’ circle. Balogun and his friends, intimidated and concerned, were permitted by staff to exit via a rear fire escape.
Unknown to him, some of Brodericks’ associates were positioned outside as observers, reports Breaking News.
Balogun and his friends passed them unaware of the threat the group posed, and were “for reasons unknown relentlessly pursued” by the pack, the garda said.
Garda McCarthy alleged: “This 14-man pack is led by Joshua Brodericks; he instigates the chase and remains at the head of the group until they catch their victim,” reports Breaking News.
Two of Balogun’s friends, including Oreoluwa Amosu, stopped running, while Balogun and his remaining companions continued fleeing in fear for their lives before being pursued onto Clarendon Street.
Due to wet conditions underfoot, Balogun lost his footing and was set upon by six individuals, with a number of the group alleged to have produced and used knives during the assault, reports Breaking News.
Garda McCarthy said while it was not alleged that Brodericks himself used a weapon, he was alleged to have been physically involved with Balogun throughout the entirety of the attack.
During the assault, Balogun fought for his life and attempted to escape but was surrounded by the group, who simultaneously held him, attacked him and stabbed him, reports Breaking News.
He eventually broke free and ran a short distance before collapsing and succumbing to his injuries.
It was alleged the attackers fled the scene and disposed of the knives, reports Breaking News.
It was further alleged that Brodericks subsequently encountered Oreoluwa Amosu and Chloe Scannell at the doorway of a Grafton Street shop, where he called on associates to target Amosu while Scannell attempted to intervene.
She was punched in the face, knocking her to the ground, while Brodericks held Amosu by his T-shirt and attacked him as another group member attempted to swing a knife at him before he broke free when his T-shirt tore, reports Breaking News.
The garda told the court that social media posts showed the accused had subsequently cut off his dreadlocks, which he had worn for years, and that footage from the rented accommodation showed a member of his group posturing with a large knife in full view of Brodericks before the group attended the concerts.
Garda McCarthy maintained the accused was centrally involved with all the main suspects, reports Breaking News.
Cross-examined by defence solicitor Aonghus McCarthy, the garda said he did not know where the two Grafton Street complainants had received treatment, and conceded their medical reports were not yet available.
Brodericks’ mother told the court she would stand bail for her son, who was born and raised in Galway, and answered “100 per cent” when asked whether he could reside with her, reports Breaking News.
McCarthy stressed his client had just completed his final examinations, was entitled to the presumption of innocence and the right to bail, and had family support in place, reports Breaking News.
Granting bail, Judge White held that bail with conditions was appropriate, setting both Brodericks’ bond and that of his mother as independent surety at €1,000 each.
Once bail is taken up, he must notify gardaà of any change of address, sign on daily at a local garda station, comply with a 10pm to 7am curfew, have no contact with witnesses, surrender his passport and not apply for a replacement, and remain contactable by phone at all times. Legal aid was granted, reports Breaking News.
Tributes described the deceased music promoter as “vibrant” and “hardworking,” and a GoFundMe campaign established to assist his family with funeral costs quickly raised over €24,000, reports Breaking News.
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