A 30-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged stabbing on Dublin’s Grafton Street over the weekend.
Mohamed Akrouf, with an address on Lower Rathmines Road in Dublin 6, was arrested shortly after the incident took place on the north end of Grafton Street, close to the junction with Wicklow Street, on Sunday morning.
The Algerian national was found in bloodstained clothing, carrying a knife on a Luas tram, in the moments which followed the attack, before he was arrested at St Stephen’s Green Luas stop, a court heard today.
The victim in the horror daylight attack, a man aged in his 30s, sustained multiple stab wounds and was brought to St James’s Hospital for treatment.
Akrouf, who came to Ireland in November last year, was today charged with assault causing harm to the man and possession of a knife as a weapon.
He was refused bail by Judge Michele Finan due to the seriousness of the charge.
Garda Martin O’Rourke, before the court, said the accused “made no reply” to the charges, adding that Akrouf had been arrested “almost immediately” as he travelled on the Luas. He had bloodstains on his clothes and a knife “beside him on the Luas,” the garda said.
Garda O’Rourke objected to bail, voicing flight concerns. He said he was concerned the accused could apply for an Algerian passport without the knowledge of gardai, and that a flight could be booked on his behalf from outside the State.
The court heard there was video evidence of the accused at the scene engaged in a fight with the man who was stabbed.
Mr Akrouf’s defence, Danica Kinane, applying for bail, said her client was unemployed however had applied for a work permit three months ago. That permit remains outstanding, but she insisted that the accused intended to work in Ireland, provided the opportunity.
Mr Akrouf was granted legal aid by the judge, with the accused remanded in custody. He is set to appear at Cloverhill District Court this Friday.
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