MMA fighter and chef refused bail over ‘ferocious’ Temple Bar assault

Tom Tuite

An MMA fighter and a chef have been refused bail after appearing in court charged with a "ferocious" unprovoked attack in Dublin's Temple Bar last week that left a man fighting for his life.

The injured male, who remains in a critical condition at Beaumont Hospital, was discovered on Cope Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning after being punched, kicked to his face and body, and having an e-scooter dropped on his head.

Co-defendants, Dominic Smith, 36, and 28-year-old Leonel Ricci were brought before Judge Máire Conneely at Dublin District Court on Monday and were remanded in custody.

Unemployed chef Mr Smith of Hunters Green, Pollerton Big, Co Carlow, and trained mixed martial artist Mr Ricci, an Argentinian with no fixed address in Dublin, were both charged with assault causing harm to a named man at Cope Street, Dublin 2, on February 16. They are scheduled to appear again on February 27.

Gardaí successfully identified him two days afterwards. The breakthrough came after investigators released a photograph of a distinctive tattoo on his arm on Friday; the appeal was widely shared on social media and by news outlets.

Detective Garda Gráinne Collier and Garda Michael Moore opposed bail due to the seriousness of the case.

They alleged the pair had been staying in a hostel in Dublin 7, and CCTV tracked them walking from Liffey Street to Cope Street on the southside.

Detective Garda Collier described the five and a half minute incident as a vicious and prolonged assault on a man who was not known to them.

The injured man arrived at Cope Street on an e-scooter, and he went to park it at a bike stand when Mr Ricci allegedly approached him.

The court heard there was a conversation, that Mr Ricci shook hands with the man, and that they then separated. Two minutes later, it was alleged that the two defendants went over and that Mr Ricci lunged and punched the victim several times to the face, leaving him "no chance to defend himself".

It was claimed that the man was held down by Mr Ricci, who allegedly punched him for 20 seconds. Garda Moran alleged that Mr Smith stamped on his face and kicked him four times in the head as he was "pinned” on the ground.

Detective Garda Collier stated that Mr Ricci took the man’s e-scooter and "smashed it down on the victim's face".

She also told the court that the out-of-work Argentinian national, who claimed to be an MMA professional, was also trained in jiu jitsu, muay thai, wrestling and boxing.

It was claimed that he took the man’s arm and "snapped it back" and that he gave the victim a football-style kick to the head.

Detective Garda Collier alleged that Mr Ricci believed the man was a drug dealer who had sold heroin to a girl, and he used his MMA skills because he thought dealers were killing people every day.

The court heard that a witness heard Mr Ricci shouting "No more drugs" during the incident.

An ambulance brought the man to St James's Hospital, but his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to Beaumont Hospital.

Garda Moran said the victim was not recognisable because of his facial injuries, and identification came after the image of his tattoo was circulated in the media. He suffered multiple facial fractures, a broken arm and a 15 cm laceration to the back of his head, and by the time of the hearing, there had been a "minor improvement", and he had begun breathing without a ventilator, the court heard.

The garda said Mr Smith, who has lived and worked as a chef in France, England and Spain, had been drinking on the day and did not recall the incident. The officer feared that defendant’s previous work abroad meant he would have contacts and means to flee the jurisdiction.

Solicitor Evan Moore told the judge that this client's deceased father comes from Ireland and that Mr Ricci came here in November to train in MMA and he had a "life-long ambition of becoming a garda".

He stressed that Mr Ricci's passport has been seized.

Luke O'Higgins BL, instructed by solicitor Peter Keatings, argued that the co-accused would abide by strict bail and had no history of serious offending.

The charge is under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, which, on conviction, is punishable by a maximum 10-year sentence. Judge Conneely noted gardaí are to seek authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecutions to bring more serious charges.

Legal aid was granted.