A man deliberately ârammedâ the gates of Ãras an Uachtaráin with his car and caused more than â¬10,000 of damage, a court has heard.
Ronan Dunn (58) of Griffin Rath Hall, Maynooth, Co Kildare, was held on â¬6,000 bail after being charged with criminal damage following the incident at 4pm on Thursday.
He appeared on Friday at Dublin District Court, which heard he made no reply when charged.
Garda Emma Gilmore objected to bail, telling Judge Paula Murphy that a colleague on duty at Phoenix Gate Lodge saw a 2013-registered Hyundai car coming along, and the CCTV showed it reversing into the Phoenix Gates. She estimated that there was in excess of â¬10,000 worth of damage.
The court heard that the Garda witness secured the car keys from the vehicle, which had a piece of cardboard near the windscreen.
Written on it was a series of letters and digits and âcriminal organisation controlling my family; call the Criminal Assets Bureau or gardaÃâ.
It was claimed that the accused made admissions following his arrest that he âdeliberately drove into the gates of Ãras an Uachtaráin to get help for his familyâ. He genuinely believed and maintained to gardaà that his family was controlled by a criminal organisation.
The officer stressed that gardaà were satisfied that the family had no connections to crime.
The judge heard the accused had no prior convictions.
Defence solicitor Paul Byrne said his clientâs comment to gardaà suggested his state of mind, and the garda accepted it was a medical issue.
Judge Murphy said that it appeared he was caught red-handed, and she understood the Stateâs concerns. However, she held that he could be granted bail with conditions, including to stay away from public buildings including Ãras an Uachtaráin and Leinster House.
Mr Dunne did not address the court and has yet to enter a plea. Judge Murphy remanded the accused in custody with consent to bail to appear again next Friday.
