Evidence wait for man accused of stabbing Garda and McGregor pub arson

Tom Tuite

A man accused of stabbing a Garda, arson of Conor McGregor’s Black Forge Inn, and terrorist activity in Dublin has been further remanded in custody pending preparation of a book of evidence.

Abdullah Khan, 23, appeared again at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday for his eighth hearing since being charged on July 31st and has not yet applied for bail.

Mr Khan, with an address in north Dublin that cannot be disclosed due to a court order, was arrested at the scene following an incident that occurred at around 6pm on Capel Street, located on the city's north side, on July 29th.

He is charged with assault causing serious harm to the officer under section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, and the production of a Tactix knife capable of causing serious injury.

The injured garda was a young probationary member of the force who was on high-visibility patrol with a colleague and received hospital treatment.

Mr Khan is also accused of endangerment of life and attempted assault of a second garda at Capel Street on July 29th.

He is also accused of three other offences, including criminal damage related to a fire at the MMA star’s Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, which allegedly happened on July 25th, four days prior to the Capel Street incident.

The other two were under section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences Act), 2005, for engaging in terrorist activity or terrorist linked activity, during the alleged arson on July 25th and the knife attack four days later.

Judge Alan Mitchell has heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that Mr Khan be tried in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, which is reserved for terrorism- or organised crime-related offences.

Special Detective Unit Sergeant Eamonn O'Neill said, "One of the charges is directly related to the previous charges, and the others are a separate but related incident.”

He also thought that all the charges would be in a single book of evidence.

The accused has yet to indicate a plea.

Reporting restrictions on Mr Khan's address have been continued for public safety reasons, “and the safety of other persons not related to this”.