Rory Killen (42), with an address at Richmond Hill, Bray, appeared at a special sitting of Bray District Court for a bail hearing.
Gardaí opposed bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, which allows the State to object to the release of an accused person where there is a serious risk that they may commit further offences if granted bail.
Rory Killen (42), with an address at Richmond Hill, Bray.
News in 90 Seconds – January 12 2026
The objection is based on public safety concerns rather than a risk of flight, and requires the court to consider whether the alleged behaviour indicates a likelihood of further serious offending while on bail.
Garda Darragh Stafford of Bray Garda Station testified that in the late hours of January 8, 2026, Mr Killen was involved in an altercation at his home address, where it is alleged he used a chisel to strike a man, with the injured party suffering lacerations to his face.
It is further alleged that the accused attempted to drive a Hyundai Santa Fe, registered in his name, at the injured party. The man did not sustain injuries during this incident as he managed to “jump out of the way”.
The court heard that when charged, Mr Killen replied: “I was assaulted by the victim.”
The injured party was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for medical treatment.
The court heard that Mr Killen is currently on bail for an unrelated matter and has been fully compliant with those conditions, including signing on at Bray Garda Station.
In his statement to gardaí, the injured party said he would be in fear for his life if the defendant were released on bail.
Solicitor for the accused, Brendan Maloney, noted that his client has no history of committing offences while on bail and has no past bench warrants.
The court was told the alleged offence occurred at Mr Killen’s home address after the injured party went to his front door.
Mr Maloney said that during his consultation with the defendant, Mr Killen stated that he was assaulted first. Garda Stafford said no statement had been taken from Mr Killen regarding this allegation.
Gda Stafford stated that “a full investigation has to take place”, but gardaí alleged that the injured party confronted Mr Killen after he attempted to strike him with his vehicle.
Mr Maloney provided background on his client, with the court hearing that his four children were in the house at the time, two of whom have special needs, including one child with severe autism.
“There are two sides to every story and his assertion is that he was assaulted,” Mr Maloney said.
The injured party was unable to give evidence in person.
The court heard that the accused and the injured party have been neighbours for more than 20 years, with the defence noting there had been no adverse interactions between them previously.
A garda inspector told Judge David Kennedy that he believed the defendant’s “erratic behaviour is a danger to public safety”. The court also heard that specialist police units were required to arrest Mr Killen.
Judge Kennedy refused the State’s application to have Mr Killen remanded in custody. An application for legal aid was granted to Mr Maloney, as Mr Killen is unemployed.
Mr Killen was released on bail on his existing conditions, but was ordered to sign on seven days a week and to stay away from the injured party.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme