A man has been refused bail after he was charged with assault causing harm to a 93-year-old pensioner.
James Reilly, 30, allegedly stabbed the elderly man three times in the abdomen and once in the hand in his garden last Saturday.
Garda Michael Rochford told Judge Treasa Kelly the accused “made no reply” when charged at Dublin District Court yesterday.
Objecting to bail, he said the alleged victim was in his garden when he was approached by a male he did not know and after a brief exchange of words he was attacked.
Together with his wife, the couple prevented the man getting into the house.
At around 2.50pm on Saturday emergency services were called to the scene.
The elderly man’s wife alleged she saw a man attack her husband with a red object.
A search of the accused’s home was carried out and the court heard a red kitchen knife was found under a sofa. Clothing was also recovered.
A public service card belonging to the pensioner’s wife was found at the man’s home, it was alleged.
The court heard she suffered a “very traumatic experience” and Garda Rochford said he had concerns for witnesses and the injured party.
He added the elderly man was “viciously attacked” and he was objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the alleged offence.
Dressed in a grey T-shirt, blue jeans and runners, Reilly, of Gort na Glaise, Blackrock, Co Louth, didn’t address the court.
However, solicitor Rory Eakin applied for bail and said his client would abide by the terms.
He told the court Reilly offered to take part in an identify parade “to establish his innocence”.
The accused was charged with assault causing harm and was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.
Legal aid was granted after the court was told Reilly was unemployed and on social welfare.
The pensioner remained in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital yesterday where his condition was understood to be stable.
