A man has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged incident in Balbriggan in which a garda was 'seriously injured'.

Patrick McDonagh (26) of Bath Road, Balbriggan was refused bail when he appeared in court charged with driving a stolen car and two counts of criminal damage.

He was remanded in custody to Cloverhill and will appear before the court again on Friday, September 4.

A co-accused woman, Amy Guildea (26), a waitress from Dun Saithne Road, also in Balbriggan, is charged with being a passenger in a stolen car.

She was granted bail to appear at Balbriggan Court on October 22.

Dublin District Court heard the injured officer, Garda Ciaran Murrihy will require a number of operations and will be out of work after the alleged incident in the Clonuske area of the town last Saturday night, August 29.

The court heard that Garda Murrihy was 'very seriously injured'.

He was expected to be out of work for a 'very long time'.

Garda Aidan O'Halloran said the defendants made no reply to the charges after caution.

Objecting to bail in Mr McDonagh's case, Garda O'Halloran cited the nature, degree and seriousness of the allegations.

Defence solicitor Grainne Whelan said Mr McDonagh at all times enjoyed a presumption of innocence.

He was prepared to abide by any stringent bail conditions, including refraining from driving.

She said if refused bail, the defendant could face up to 18 months in custody waiting for the case to go to trial.

Mr McDonagh was a Traveller and was unemployed.

Judge Grainne O'Neill refused bail and remanded him in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

In relation to Ms Guildea, Garda O'Halloran said he had no objection to bail in her case, subject to conditions.

Ms Whelan said Ms Guildea was a single parent with one child and the father was deceased.

The charge against her was not as serious as those in her co-accused's case.

She had a defence open to her that she was unaware the vehicle was stolen at the time.

Judge O'Neill granted bail in Ms Guildea's own bond of €200 on condition that she signs on three times per week at Balbriggan Garda Station.

She must stay out of the Clonuske and New Haven housing estates and must not associate with Mr McDonagh or his extended family.

Fingal Independent