Man allegedly bit garda and assaulted three others at Bray Courthouse
The Wicklow PeopleA man who allegedly assaulted four gardaí and bit one of them on the finger while being held in a courthouse cell has been granted bail at Bray District Court.
Rory Killen (42), with an address at Richmond Hill, Bray appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court charged with threatening or abusive behaviour in a public place.
Mr Killen also appeared on Monday, December 8 on unrelated matters, during which time he allegedly became violent towards gardaí. He was arrested and detained inside Bray Courthouse by Sergeant Mike Canavan. Mr Killen was placed in the holding cells.
Sergeant Sinead O’Keefe testified that gardaí entered the cell for health and safety reasons when, it is alleged, the defendant assaulted four gardaí and bit one of them on the finger.
The garda received medical attention at the scene from solicitor Dermot Hickey, who is also a part-time firefighter, stationed out of Wicklow town.
An ambulance was called and the injured garda was taken to hospital. The court was told that the garda has since been deemed unfit for duty due to the injury he received.
Judge Áine Shannon enquired on what legal grounds gardaí were objecting to bail. Gardaí told the court that the objection was being made under the O’Callaghan principles.
Solicitor for the accused, Brendan Maloney, said concerns about a risk of interference with garda witnesses, all of whom were directly involved in the arrest and alleged assaults, were highly unlikely.
Mr Maloney noted that his client has no bench warrant history and that Mr Killen is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Judge Shannon refused the application for the defendant to be remanded in custody.
Mr Killen was granted bail on the conditions that he sign on at Bray Garda Station three days a week and obey a curfew.
The matter was put back for directions. Mr Killen is due to appear again before Bray District Court on January 20, 2026.