A man who is accused of damaging two vehicles during an alleged dangerous-driving incident in a shopping centre car park that was widely shared on social media has been granted bail, despite garda objections.
“You’re speaking about a feud – there’s no feud,” the accused man told a garda giving evidence on the objection.
The accused, who is aged in his 30s, appeared before an in camera sitting of Tallaght District Court charged in connection with the incident at Citywest Shopping Centre on September 13 last.
He represented himself because of the ongoing solicitors’ strike over legal aid fees.
He faces charges of criminal damage to a grey Peugeot Rifter and a grey Audi A4 vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to remain at the scene of an incident in which the Audi was damaged.
Giving evidence during the bail application, a garda said that CCTV footage shows vehicles being driven at high speed around the car park and a collision which caused a vehicle to strike an Audi.
The court also heard that a security worker had recorded mobile phone footage of the incident.
The garda objected to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing concerns that the accused would commit further serious offences and referring to an alleged family feud.
The accused disputed that description. “You’re speaking about a feud – there’s no feud,” he said.
He told the court he had been attacked and threatened but had not caused trouble with those allegedly involved.
Questioning the garda himself, the accused asked whether the witness accepted that he had not come to garda attention in the area where he lived. The garda agreed.
Judge Edward Carroll explained that the accused’s entitlement to liberty was the starting point in considering bail and that the hearing was not about determining guilt.
“You are entitled to your freedom – that’s where we start. This is not about whether you are guilty – that’s for another day”, he said.
The judge granted bail with conditions requiring the accused to sign on daily at a garda station, adhere to an 11pm-to-6am curfew and provide gardai with a mobile phone number.
The case was adjourned until 29 October next.