Dublin, Ireland – An 18-year-old man appeared in court charged with violent disorder and brandishing a hammer in Dublin’s Phoenix Park last week. Reece Murphy, an apprentice steel fabricator, claimed in court that the incident was not targeted at the gay community. He was remanded on bail with conditions as the case awaits directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The charges against Murphy stem from alleged offenses on the night of June 17th, sparking concerns after reports of gay men being chased and confronted in the park. Police have reached out to LGBTQI+ advocacy groups in response to the incidents.
During the court appearance, Murphy’s defense solicitor emphasized that his client is not homophobic and that the incident was not meant as an attack on the gay community. The teenager faces charges of violent disorder, producing a hammer as a weapon, and dangerous driving in Phoenix Park.
Judge Treasa Kelly imposed several conditions for Murphy’s bail, including staying out of Phoenix Park and other public parks, adhering to a curfew from 11pm to 6am, providing a contact number, surrendering his passport, and notifying authorities of any address changes. The teenager must also sign in at his local Garda station three days a week and have no contact with the injured parties or witnesses in the case.
Murphy, dressed in a black jacket and grey jeans, remained silent during the hearing while his solicitor represented him in court. The judge scheduled another court appearance for September 16th to await further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Legal aid was granted to the defendant.