Man charged over petrol bomb attack injuring three children

A man has been charged over a petrol bomb attack on a Waterford house which left three children injured.

Gregory Hennessy (23) of Priory Lawn, Waterford, was brought before a special sitting of Waterford District Court on Saturday.

Det Sgt Siobhán Keating told Judge Gerard Furlong that she arrested and charged Mr Hennessy at Waterford Garda station in the early hours of Saturday morning and he made no reply to either of the charges.

The accused is charged with reckless endangerment by allegedly throwing a petrol bomb through the sitting room window of 46 Ardmore Park, Ballybeg, Waterford, on Thursday night, “which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another”. He is also charged with committing criminal damage.

Mr Hennessy’s solicitor, Kenny Cunningham, applied for free legal aid, telling the court his client is “not in gainful employment”.

There was no application for bail.

Medical assessment

Mr Cunningham asked that Mr Hennessy be medically assessed on arrival in prison “for an underlying condition” and also that his client be assessed as a candidate for protective custody.Judge Furlong said this was “a matter for the governor” of the prison but agreed to make the recommendations.

He remanded Mr Hennessy in custody to appear again before Waterford District Court on Tuesday.

Members of the Garda regional support unit were in the vicinity of the building, while up to 10 gardaí were present in court for the brief remand hearing.

Róisín Halligan (11), her one-year-old cousin, Lexie, and three-month-old cousin, William, were injured in the attack.