Hit-and-run suspect charged with attempted murder
A Dublin youth was remanded in custody today after he was charged with attempted murder in relation to a suspected hit-and-run, which left a man brain damaged.
The 24-year-old man from the Bluebell area, in south Dublin, has remained hospitalised with brain injuries after he was knocked down at around midday on April 19 last.
A then 17-year-old boy had been charged the following day at the Dublin Children’s Court with dangerous driving at Huband Road, in Bluebell.
However, today at the Children’s Court, the State applied to have that charge withdrawn and for it to be replaced by two others.
The defendant, Gavin Guerrine, who is now aged 18 and no longer a juvenile, from La Touche Road, in Bluebell, was charged with attempted murder of Christopher O’Rourke and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm.
The stocky dark haired teenager, who was wearing a grey hooded jacket and had an arm in a cast, remained silent during his brief court appearance.
Garda David Gilmore, of Kilmainham station, told Judge Aingeal Ni Chonduin that the new charges were put to the accused this morning and the teenager replied “I did not” when cautioned.
State solicitor Mary Kate Halpin told Judge Ni Chonduin that “the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment.”
This means the case will be sent forward to the Central Criminal Court.
A bail application could not be made in the Children’s Court in relation to the attempted murder charge, the judge noted.
She remanded the youth, who was accompanied to his case, by his father, in custody for one week.
Bail conditions were set on the second charge which included a ban on him going to the Bluebell area and from having any contact “direct or indirectly” with witnesses.
He was also ordered to reside at an address outside of the Bluebell area that was furnished to the court and to sign on three times a week at a Garda station.
Defence counsel Oisin Clarke said that his client would be remaining in custody on the attempted murder charge and was seeking to be held in Cloverhill prison, not St Patrick’s Institution “for his own safety.”
Legal aid was also granted.
