Man (27) 'lunged' at TikTok security guards with a sharpened metal handle after robbery, court hears

Tom Tuite

A father of one accused of wielding a sharpened metal handle "lunged" at TikTok security guards after threatening to slice a woman in a robbery in central Dublin has been denied bail.

Niall Keyes, 27, with an address at Capel Street, Dublin 1, appeared before Judge Valerie Corcoran at Dublin District Court on Thursday.

Garda Michael Moore said Mr Keyes made no reply when charged with robbery, burglary, knife possession, criminal damage and possessing stolen property.

He alleged that shortly after 4.20 pm on Tuesday, gardaí took a report of an incident at the junction of Pearse Street and Erne Street.

A male, allegedly Mr Keyes, who had already been injured, attempted to take her bicycle before a passer-by intervened.

It was claimed that the accused produced an implement, described as a knife, and told them, "Let go, I will slice your face".

The contested bail hearing was told that the victim and the passer-by feared for their safety. The suspect fled with the bicycle, but his hat fell and was recovered by gardaí and will be tested forensically.

The court heard CCTV evidence was recovered, and the suspect did not attempt to conceal his identity as he made his way to

It was alleged that the accused made his way to the TikTok building in Dublin 2, and within minutes, gardaí received another alert of an incident there.

It was reported to gardai that a man entered the building car park of the TikTok building and produced a knife at a security officer.

A second security man came to the aid of his colleague, and the weapon was also produced at him.

It was claimed that the man chased them and was kept at bay when they used a small broom as a barrier when he lunged at them.

The suspect grabbed the broom and broke it off a neighbouring building.

Blood drops were spotted in the vicinity, and a bloodstained comb with a sharp metal handle was located.

A photo of the comb was handed in, and it was the garda’s view that it was the implement that was used.

He was located an hour later and the gardaí maintained he was wearing the same clothing seen in the CCTV evidence.

Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens pleaded for bail terms to be set and stressed her client's presumption of innocence. She told the court Mr Keyes had been homeless until he secured accommodation, which he was anxious to keep.

The was also likely to proceed on indictment to the Circuit Court.

Jude Corcoran refused the bail application and remanded the accused in custody to appear again next week. She also directed that he get medical attention in prison at the request of the defence. Legal aid was granted.