Man (43) charged with attacking Swiss tourist on Dublin Bus over buggy space

Tom Tuite

A 43-year-old man has been charged with attacking a Swiss tourist on a busy bus in south Dublin after he stood in the section reserved for buggies and wheelchairs.

Richard O'Mahoney, of Rathgar Avenue, Dublin 6, is accused of assault causing harm on January 4th, 2023.

He appeared at Dublin District Court, where Judge Treasa Kelly accepted jurisdiction after hearing an outline of the case facts. She remanded the accused on bail to appear again in September to enter a plea.

The court heard the incident occurred on a Dublin Bus on Rathgar Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6, at around 6:30 pm.

A Swiss national and his wife had been visiting their daughter in Dublin for Christmas.

After spending the day in the city centre with his wife, daughter and her boyfriend, they boarded a bus to Churchtown.

The bus was busy, all seats were taken, and the complainant stood in the area for buggies or wheelchairs.

Along the journey, a man, allegedly the accused, boarded with a woman, and he was pushing a buggy with a small baby. It was claimed that he pushed the buggy into the tourist's legs three or four times while speaking to the Swiss national, who did not understand because he did not speak English.

It was alleged that later Mr O'Mahoney and the woman with him, who was now pushing the buggy, went to get off the bus.

However, the accused allegedly turned around, approached the man and began punching him until other passengers intervened.

The incident was allegedly captured on CCTV. The Swiss man suffered a swollen eye, tinnitus in his left ear, and a fractured nose, the court heard.