The Romanian national who is accused of assaulting the Canadian tourist who later died after this year’s attack in Dublin city centre has had the charge against him updated to murder.
It has now emerged that the accused, Ionut Danca, left Ireland for two days after the assault, flying to Edinburgh. Edinburgh Live reports on how the court heard that Danca “booked a flight from Dublin to Bucharest, and officers waited for him at the airport. But he went to Belfast instead and flew to Edinburgh and then Naples.”
The construction worker, with an address at Rathdown Square, North Circular Road, Dublin 7, was initially charged with assault causing harm to Mr Dolmajian, but that charge has now been replaced with one of murder. He has been granted High Court bail.
Ionut Danca will face the more serious charge over the alleged random attack on Neno Dolmajian on O’Connell Street in July. Mr Dolmajian, who was from Montreal, was attacked on O’Connell Street in the early hours of 23 June. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Mater Hospital but the 41-year-old died on 2 July after succumbing to his injuries. He did not regain consciousness after the attack.
It was claimed in court that “his girlfriend indicated they intended to leave Ireland permanently and have their stuff shipped to Romania.”
The court heard from detective Sergeant Byrne that gardai had attended his Dublin address, but it was “cleaned out,” and there were ten bags of his belongings.
Defence solicitor Evan Moore said that Danca had no prior criminal convictions and lived and worked in Ireland for six years and that he came back to Ireland “voluntarily” after discussions. But this was allegedly only after two full days of calls, texts, and emails and efforts to find him.
The death sent shockwaves through the capital, with Taoiseach Simon Harris saying that he was “absolutely appalled” and describing the death of the tourist as “reprehensible” and “horrific.”
“I’m absolutely appalled at the recent vicious attack in Dublin city centre which resulted in the death of a young man, Neno Dolmajian, and my thoughts are with his loved ones,” he said in July. “A man who came from Montreal to, as you say, enjoy the best of our city, the best of our country, who came here on his holidays.”
Mr Danca (24), appeared before Judge Gerard Jones on Monday, who said that the State needed time to prepare the book of evidence for the trial. Mr Danca was granted High Court bail. He has been ordered to appear again in January to be served with the book of evidence.
A previous bail hearing at the District Court heard that the accused had allegedly been with a group of others at Cathal Brugha Street when the injured party approached and engaged in conversation. They had not been known to each other beforehand. It was claimed that a fight ensued, and when they moved to O’Connell Street, another interaction with the victim came about. Hostility ensued, and others tried to intervene, but the accused “pushed and punched” the deceased to the ground.
It is understood that the victim left and walked towards the quays, however he was knocked to the ground and received a “running kick.” Detective Sergeant Eoghan Byrne told the earlier hearing that the man received a full-force blow to the face.
It was previously reported that the tourist “struggled with getting himself onto his feet,” and managed to make his way to the Spire, roughly 400 metres away.
It had also been reported that the accused had been in Ireland for five years, living with a family member. Sergeant McCarthy previously said that he does not pay rent or a mortgage, and has no significant ties to the State.
Another man is also before the courts in connection with the attack on Mr Dolmajian. His case resumes in January.