The driver of a car which struck and injured 10 people on a pedestrianised shopping street in Dublin city yesterday was an asylum-seeker who had just received notice that his appeal against threatened deportation had been rejected.
The 35-year-old underwent tests for drugs and alcohol at Store Street Garda Station shortly after his arrest at the scene on Henry Street shortly after 1 p.m.
Seven of the 10 people injured, including a man in his 80s, were discharged from the Mater Hospital last night with minor injuries.
A woman, a man and a 17- year-old youth were detained overnight. The condition of all three was described as stable.
The man's dark grey Ford Escort turned on to Henry Street from O'Connell Street shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday. Witnesses said it was travelling at up to 50 miles an hour.
It hit the pedestrians before crashing through barriers erected by workers laying paving stones outside Arnotts. The car came to a stop when it crashed into the rear of the workers' parked van.
Detectives at Store Street last night dismissed earlier reports that the man had a passenger in the vehicle or that he was armed and had been earlier involved in a bank robbery.
Following his arrest the man was brought to hospital upon the advice of a doctor who examined him at Store Street and found he had a fast heart rate. He was later released and spent the night in the Garda station.
Garda∅ last night said the man was a Nigerian who applied for refugee status in September 1999. He had lived in the north inner city and was working as a driver for the computer company, IBM, using false EU identity papers. The vehicle he was driving was insured in his name.
Det Insp John O'Driscoll from the Garda National Immigration Bureau said the Refugee Appeals Tribunal issued a letter two days ago informing the man that his appeal against threatened deportation had been unsuccessful. The man had the letter in his possession when he was arrested. A deportation order is normally issued shortly after an appeal has been rejected.
"The possibility that the crime alleged against him was a reaction to his application for refugee status being rejected is something that investigating garda∅ are taking into consideration," said Det Insp O'Driscoll.
Victim Support said people who were involved could contact its volunteers at tel 01-8780870 or on its helpline - tel 1850 661771