Two men, who are charged in relation to a “vicious” and “unprovoked” assault on a man in Temple Bar on the 18th of February last, in which an e-scooter was used to injure the victim, have been refused bail.
Both are charged with assault contrary to Section 3 (1) and 3(2) of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 (as amended by Section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023).
Argentinian national Leonal Ricci, 28 (pictured left), who has no ties to the state, is accused of dropping an e-scooter on the victim’s face and using his “MMA skills” to break the man’s arm while he was lying unconscious on the ground on Cope Street during the assault, which lasted 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
Ricci, who says he is a “professional” MMA fighter, was described as being the chief aggressor.
He is also accused of delivering a “football-style” kick to the victim’s head during the alleged attack, which investigating Gardaí say involved “ferocious” levels of violence.
The second accused, chef Dominic Smith (36) of Hunters Green, Pollerton Big, Co. Carlow, is alleged to have “stamped” on the victim’s head as well as “viciously” kicking him in the head four times.
Judge Máire Conneely heard that Ricci told Gardaí that he believed that the victim was a “drug dealer” and that he had been supplying narcotics to a “young girl”.
The court heard that the victim had ridden on the street where the attack took place on his e-scooter when Smith approached him “aggressively” before Ricci “lunged” at him in the “serious and unprovoked attack”.
Prosecuting Garda Detective Grainne Collier told the court that she was opposing bail in respect of Ricci due to the level of violence allegedly used during the attack, which she described as a “truly vicious and violent assault”, which has left the victim “fighting for his life”.
She said that Ricci gave an account of the circumstances surrounding the assault, the entirety of which was captured on CCTV, and that bail was being opposed for the purposes of preventing possible fiurther violent crime.
Defending counsel, Evan Moore, argued that his client has no previous convictions in Ireland, and that he wished to apply for a work permit having come to Ireland on the 3rd of November last.
The court heard that Ricci was being financially supported by family members in Italy, and that his “lifelong ambition” is to become a member of An Garda Síochána.
Mr. Moore said that Ricci, who claims to be an MMA professional, is also trained in Jiujitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling, and boxing. sometimes slept on the streets when he was unable to pay for hostel accommodation.
He was remanded in custody until the 27th of February to appear before Cloverhill District Court at 10 am.
Garda Michael Moore Pearse Street Garda station, opposed bail in respect of Smith, said that the victim was found “lying unconscious” at 00:37 hours with “multiple facial fractures”, that he had lost “multiple teeth”, and had a 15cm laceration on the back of his head. When the man was conveyed to St. James’ Hospital, he was placed in an induced coma with medical staff describing him as being “in a critical condition”, the court heard.
Garda Moore said that his facial injuries were so severe that it was not possible to identify him, and that Gardaí had to circulate a photo of a tattoo on his arm to establish who he was.
Garda Moore said the two accused had been traced on CCTV to a pizza shop north of the Liffey before they crossed to the south side, where they were refused entry to a bar.
He argued that the CCTV had “good lighting”, that Smith was “clearly identified”, and that he shook the hand of Ricci after the alleged assault.
The court heard that Smith, who has lived and worked as a chef in France, England, and Spain, was drinking at the time and does not remember the events.
Garda Moore said that he believed that Smith had the necessary “contacts and means” to “flee” the jurisdiction.
Defending counsel, Luke O’Higgins BL, argued that his client should be admitted to bail as he has no previous serious convictions.
Judge Conneely refused bail, remanding the accused in custody to appear before the Central Criminal Court on the 27th of February next.