Petrol bomb attack accused denied bail in Waterford court

A man charged with two offences as a result of a petrol bomb attack on a house which left three children injured has been refused bail at Waterford District Court.

Gregory Hennessy (23), 66 Priory Lawn, Waterford, was before the court for the second time today in relation to his alleged involvement in the incident last Thursday night.

He is charged with reckless endangerment by allegedly throwing a petrol bomb through a sittingroom window at Ardmore Park, Waterford, on Thursday night, “which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another”, and also with criminal damage.

The court heard he has “denied all involvement” in the incident.

There was no application for bail when he was first brought before the court in relation to the charges last Saturday, but his solicitor Kenneth Cunningham made an application for bail today to Judge Kevin Staunton.

Mr Cunningham said a book of evidence will have to be prepared for his client, with the case to be heard before the circuit court, and Gregory Hennessy was likely to remain in custody for months while waiting for this to happen if refused bail.

Insp Carmel Banville said gardaí had “serious concerns” about where Mr Hennessy would actually reside if granted bail.

Det Sgt Siobhan Keating said gardaí received a report at about 9.19pm last Thursday about a petrol bomb being thrown through the front window of a house at Ardmore Park.

Nellie Halligan and her two daughters were in the house at the time, along with three children aged 11, one and three months.

Injuries sustained

The children were in the front room at the time and sustained injuries as a result.

“One remains in a serious condition with serious burn injuries at Cork University Hospital, Det Sgt Keating told the court.

Mr Hennessy was subsequently arrested during the investigation.

Det Sgt Keating described what happened as “a very serious incident” and said that, since Thursday night, “tensions have been very high” in the area.

Asked by Mr Cunningham about the status of the ongoing investigation, the detective said an incident room was established last Friday with an officer in charge and a team of detectives working full-time on the case.

She agreed with Mr Cunningham that, if refused bail, the accused would end up in custody awaiting trial for at least a period of weeks.

She also accepted that Mr Hennessy has “denied all involvement with regard to the charges”.

Judge Staunton said the accused is before the court on “very serious charges” but remains an innocent man until otherwise proven in a court of law.

There was the question of time taken to get to trial, he said, but there was a team of detectives on the investigation and it “would appear to be gathering some pace”.

He said the correct thing for the court to do in this matter was to refuse bail.

He remanded the accused in custody, to appear again in court on November 4th.