Man (29) claims self-defence after beating 59-year-old with hammer

Kenneth Fox

A man has claimed he acted in self-defence when he beat a 59-year-old resident with a hammer at an apartment building in Dundrum, Dublin.

Nathan Haines (29), who resides at a hostel in New Cabra Road, Dublin, was charged with assault causing harm to the man and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury at Rosemount Court on Tuesday.

Bail was set at €1,500 when he appeared at Dublin District Court on Tuesday.

Detective Garda Liam Magee objected to bail. He told Judge Cephas Power that the accused had a cousin living in the apartment below the complainant’s home.

He alleged there was an altercation and the injured party was assaulted in the hallway outside an apartment and “was struck with a hammer to his head and body and kicked a number of times and punched”. CCTV evidence was obtained.

The complainant suffered various injuries including, lacerations and a fractured scapula

Detective Garda Haines said he was concerned about possible witness intimidation and the safety of the injured party.

Mr Haines was arrested at the scene.

In exchanges with defence counsel Garrett Casey, he agreed that the accused claimed the complainant came at him first with the hammer. The court heard Mr Haines maintained he disarmed him and asserted that he then acted in self-defence.

However, the detective did not accept that, and he stated video footage showed the accused was safe in an apartment, but he left and then attacked the injured party.

Mr Casey submitted that it could be over a year until the trial.

Addressing the detective’s belief that Mr Haines was of no fixed abode, Mr Casey said his client had accommodation on the city’s north side, well away from the incident. He also said his client had no record of offending on bail.

Judge Power set Mr Haines’s bond of €500 but required approval of a €1,000 independent surety.

He was granted legal aid and remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Cloverhill District Court next week.

Once the terms of bail have been met, he must obey a 10pm-7am curfew, have no contact with witnesses, keep a mobile phone on him so gardaí can reach him at all times, remain away from Dundrum, and sign on daily at a Garda station.

Directions from the DPP must be obtained.