Twin brothers ‘punched, kicked’ man outside a shop, court hears
Two brothers repeatedly punched and kicked a young man outside a shopping centre in full view of shoppers, it has been alleged.
Twins Mark (21) and Michael Ibrahim allegedly knocked the victim to the ground, and then pulled him to his feet by his hair.
Judge Stephanie Coggans said she was not happy to accept jurisdiction to deal with the matter in the district court.
Judge Coggans said it appeared, from the CCTV footage, that the assault was “sustained, serious and unprovoked”.
The judge adjourned the matter to a date in March, to allow the DPP reconsider jurisdiction and a book of evidence.
The accused, of Taylor Hill Court in Balbriggan, are charged with seriously assaulting a man at Castlemill Shopping Centre in Balbriggan on November 4, 2023.
The DPP had directed summary trials in the district court and a judge had previously accepted jurisdiction, but the CCTV footage had not been shown at the time.
Gda O’Donnell said the accused then dragged the victim along the footpath
Garda Dean O’Donnell told Balbriggan District Court that CCTV footage was now available.
Gda O’Donnell said the alleged victim was standing outside a shop with friends around 6pm when the two accused walked over to him, and Michael hit him in the face.
Gda O’Donnell said the victim fell to the ground, and he was kicked a number of times by Michael and Mark.
Gda O’Donnell alleged that Michael grabbed the victim by the hair and hit him again.
Michael is alleged to have dragged the victim to his feet by his hair, and he and Mark assaulted him again.
Gda O’Donnell said the accused then dragged the victim along the footpath, and out of the view of the CCTV cameras.
Gardaí knew the alleged victim, the court heard, and they went to his house later that day.
The alleged injured party was unwilling to co-operate with gardaí.
However, Gda O’Donnell said gardaí took pictures of his injuries, and these were shown to the judge.
Judge Coggans refused jurisdiction to deal with the matter in the district court, and the case was adjourned to March.