Three men charged over assault which left man with a fractured skull

Leroy Howard and Daniel Delaney appeared before court

Robin Schiller

Three Dublin men have appeared in court charged in relation to an assault which left a number of people injured and one man fighting for his life.

Leroy Howard, Daniel Delaney and Declan Byrne, all with addresses in the north inner city, were before Dublin District Court yesterday morning in relation to the incident.

The court heard that CCTV footage of the alleged assault was available, and that gardai were awaiting directions from the DPP.

Bail

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, August 1 of this year in the vicinity of Frederick Street, Ashbourne, Co Meath.

All three men, who are aged in their early 20s, were granted bail on the condition that they abide by strict terms.

Leroy Howard, with an address in Oriel Hall, Dublin 1, must sign on at his local garda station three times a week, ­observe a curfew between 10pm and 7am and stay out of Co Meath apart from for employment purposes and future court dates.

When asked if he understood the conditions of his bail, he replied: "I do indeed."

Daniel Delaney, of Mariners Port, Dublin 1, is also required to sign on at Store Street Garda Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and be at a given address between 10pm and 6am every day.

He was also instructed to stay out of Co Meath, but is allowed into the area for work.

Applying for bail, the court heard that Declan Byrne, of Spencer Dock, Dublin 1, had a sibling as well as nieces and nephews living in Co Meath, and asked for more lenient bail conditions so he could visit them. "We're not here to facilitate your social life," the Judge replied.

However, similar bail conditions were also granted to Mr Byrne, who works in Ashbourne.

The three accused will appear before Dublin's District Court on October 18, as authorities in Co Meath were unable to secure a sitting in Trim District Court for that day.

Injured

The three men had been detained by local gardai on Thursday morning, and were questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

A total of five males and one female were injured during this incident, with three of the injured men removed by ambulance to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. One of the men, who is aged in his early 30s, suffered a fractured skull and other serious injuries.