Man accused of assault on tourist appears in court

Teenager released on bail and ordered to appear again at the end of May

Stefan Bornac, aged 18, of Woodlands Park, Naas, Co. Kildare was granted bail after he was charged with assault causing harm at D’Olier Street, Dublin 2 Sunday. Photograph: Collins Courts
Stefan Bornac, aged 18, of Woodlands Park, Naas, Co. Kildare was granted bail after he was charged with assault causing harm at D’Olier Street, Dublin 2 Sunday. Photograph: Collins Courts

A young man charged with assault after an English tourist suffered severe injuries in Dublin city-centre at the weekend has been released on bail.

Shortly after 2.30am, on Easter Sunday, gardaí and emergency services attended an incident at D’Olier Street, near the junction with Fleet Street.

A man was treated at the scene for an apparent head injury and removed by ambulance to St James’s Hospital. His condition is understood to be critical.

In a follow-up operation, gardaí arrested Stefan Bornac, 18, originally from Romania but with an address at Woodlands Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. They held him under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Pearse Street Garda Station.

READ SOME MORE

Gardaí charged him at 5.24pm on Sunday with two counts of assault.

The teenager was held pending his appearance before Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court on Monday.

He is accused of assault, causing harm to a tourist in his 20s, and to a second named man at D’Olier Street on April 17th.

Garda Dabhach Dineen told the court Mr Bornac “made no reply to charge after caution,” and he was handed copies of the charges.

There was no objection to bail. Defence solicitor Stephen O’Mahony said bail terms had been agreed.

Judge Cronin noted that gardaí must obtain the Director of Public Prosecutions’ directions in the case. The investigating officer asked for a six-week adjournment.

She remanded the accused, who did not address the court, on €500 bail to appear on May 30th.

She warned him that he must abide by conditions: reside at his current residence, notify of any address change, provide gardai with his number and be contactable at all times.

He had already surrendered his travel documents but the judge ordered him not to apply for duplicate or other travel documents and she told him he must remain in the jurisdiction and sign on every Saturday at Clane Garda station.

She granted legal aid after noting from the solicitor that he was a “suitable candidate”. There was no garda objection.

Judge Cronin also directed that a Romanian interpreter attend the case on the next date.

Investigating gardaí have appealed for witnesses to come forward and those with camera footage from the location at the time of the incident to make it available to them.