Two men charged with assaulting off-duty garda

Two men have been charged with assault causing harm to an off-duty garda in Dublin city centre last Sunday.

Taylor Ryan, aged 22, from Wicklow, and Daryl Waldron, aged 32, from Dublin, both of no fixed abode, were charged with assault causing harm to the officer in the early hours of 21 June.

The two men appeared before Judge Gráinne Malone at Dublin District Court this afternoon.

Detective Garda William McCarthy and Detective Garda Niamh McCarthy gave evidence that the two men "made no reply" after they were arrested and charged yesterday.

The judge noted that 13 solicitors were contacted to represent the pair after they were detained for questioning at Pearse Street Garda Station.

However, the two men had no legal representation during their interviews or in court.

That was due to the current industrial action, in which solicitors have withdrawn services in a dispute over reforms that will provide flat fees for District Court legal aid cases.

Judge Malone noted that, in the interest of fairness, the investigating detectives were not objecting to bail for the unrepresented defendants but were seeking conditions that the judge imposed.

The judge refused to retain jurisdiction over the case in the District Court, ruling that it should be sent to the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers.

The two men were not required to give evidence but consented to the bail terms imposed.

They were ordered to have no contact with each other or with any witnesses in the case.

They must also provide an address to gardaí within 48 hours, stay out of Dublin 1 and Dublin 2 areas, and abide by a curfew from 11pm to 6am.

The pair, who have yet to enter a plea, were ordered to appear again on 29 July. A book of evidence has yet to be served on them.