Six men and a 16-year-old boy have been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged over the alleged assault and false imprisonment of a woman in a flat in Dublin’s north inner city.
A sitting of Dublin District Court heard claims on Saturday that a “makeshift blowtorch” and a hammer were used during the alleged assault and torture of the woman at Henrietta House, Dublin 7, on Thursday, and that threats of rape were made against her during the “prolonged” incident.
The court heard the alleged incident relates to a drug debt.
The seven accused appeared in court before Judge Patricia McNamara, where they each faced one charge of assault causing harm and one charge of false imprisonment.
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The six men charged are Sean Conroy (20), with an address at Silloge Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11; Mark McMahon (54), with an address at Henrietta House, Bolton Street, Dublin 7; Mark Keogh (33), with an address at Henrietta House, Bolton Street, Dublin 7; Kian Walsh (21), with an address at Constitution Hill, Dublin 7; Jayven Talbot (20), with an address at Constitution Hill, Dublin 7; Braxton Rice (20), with an address at Henrietta House, Dublin 1.
A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, was also charged.
Gardaí entered the flat around 7.30pm in the Henrietta House complex on foot of a search warrant on Thursday evening, the court heard, and came across the “chaotic” incident involving eight men and the woman, who was “visibly injured” and in a “distressed state”.
Arresting officers alleged in court that the complainant faced a “prolonged” assault and torture at the hands of eight men at the address, where she allegedly suffered stab wounds, punctured lungs, burns, lacerations, broken bones, had hair removed from her head and was threatened with rape.
It was further alleged by arresting officers that several instruments were used over the course of the incident to inflict injury on the woman, including a hammer, iron poles, blades, scissors, a hatchet, and a deodorant can and lighter used as a makeshift blowtorch. Gardaí seized these instruments from the scene, the court heard, as well as the woman’s bloody clothing.
The alleged injured party made a detailed statement to gardaí following the incident, in which she alleged the suspects “took turns” in beating her. The court heard that the alleged incident is connected to a dispute over a drug debt.
She was unable to attend court due her injuries, having undergone surgery in hospital following the incident.
Gardaí objected to bail in the case of all seven accused, highlighting the seriousness of the offences before the court.
Mr Walsh, Mr Rice, Mr Conroy and Mr Talbot all applied for bail, but were refused by the judge after gardaí stated that no conditions would allay their concerns relating to the accused men. They were remanded in custody, to appear before Cloverhill District Court next week.
Mr McMahon and Mr Keogh did not apply for bail, and were remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court next week. The juvenile also did not apply for bail, and was remanded in custody to Oberstown, to appear before the Children’s Court on Monday.
All seven accused were granted legal aid, with statements of means handed into the court.
Another man, aged in his 40s, arrested over the alleged incident has been charged and is due to appear in court on Monday.
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