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Court refuses bail for former Sinn Fein councillor accused of false imprisonment

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing in Dublin, former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, aged 39, and his father Patrick Dowdall, aged 59, were denied bail. Both men were charged with falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley on 15 January at Navan Road, Dublin 7, by detaining him without consent. They also face charges of threatening to kill Hurley and assaulting him, causing harm, at the same location and date. Additionally, they are accused of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm – a sawn‑off shotgun and a handgun – with intent to facilitate the false imprisonment. Judge Robert Eagar, with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, refused bail after hearing objections from Gardaí based on the seriousness of the charges and Section 2A of the Bail Act. The Dowdalls remain remanded in custody until 15 May next year, when their trial is expected to commence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court refuses bail for former Sinn Fein councillor accused of false imprisonment. Charges or matters: threatening to kill Mr Hurley and of assaulting the man, causing him harm, at the same place on the same date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• January 15th Incident
• May 15th Adjournment
• 2016-11-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report