Accused in false imprisonment case in custody for Christmas

A man charged with three counts of false imprisonment in relation to an alleged incident in west Dublin last June will spend Christmas in custody after the High Court today (Wed) refused to grant him bail.

Declan Duffy (42) is charged with three separate charges of false imprisonment and one count of violent disorder at The Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, on June 9th last.

Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan refused to grant Mr Duffy bail, taking into consideration concerns gardaí had expressed on several occasions in court about his being granted bail.

Reporting restrictions

Reporting restrictions apply to the naming of the alleged victims who, the court was told today, had been moved by gardaí to “a secure location”.

Mr Duffy, of Hanover Street West, in Dublin’s south inner city, sought to be admitted to bail at the High Court. Through his lawyers, Mr Duffy said he was prepared to offer two sureties of €16,000.

He was also prepared to sign on two or three times a day at a nominated Garda station, be subjected to a curfew and stay in or out of any location deemed appropriate by the court.

It was argued that Mr Duffy could spend “quite some time” in custody before his trial is listed.

The State had objected to bail on grounds including the allegations were so serious that bail should not be granted. If convicted of the charges, Mr Duffy could receive a life sentence.

No surety acceptable

Det Insp Colm O’Malley said no surety was acceptable due to various Garda concerns including the serious nature of the charges pending against Mr Duffy.

He told the court a decision on whether the trial is to be heard before the Special Criminal Court or the Circuit Court had still to be made.

His recommendation had been that the matter go before the Special Criminal Court.

The application was made after the District Court had previously refused to grant Mr Duffy bail following his arrest earlier this month.