A MAN CARRIED out a series of attacks by crashing a van into gates of Áras an Uachtaráin, the Custom House and Government Buildings in Dublin after suffering “delusional fantasies”, a court has heard.

David O’Callaghan, 40, of The Fairways, Woodbrook Glen, Bray, Co Wicklow, appeared today before Judge William Aylmer at Dublin District Court.

He faces five counts of criminal damage to gates at the three locations, which happened within the space of about 15 minutes.

The court heard the damage at Áras an Uachtaráin was valued at €4,750k.

As yet, there was no damage estimate for the other locations, but gardaí believed it to be in the tens of thousands.

The accused could face additional serious charges.

He was remanded in custody with consent to bail set at €350 but also requiring approval of a €5,000 independent surety, who must lodge €1,500.

Once he has taken up bail, he cannot go to the city centre or Phoenix Park, contact any public representative, or post online about the case.

He will appear again on Thursday.

The unemployed man was arrested just after 2.30 am and held at Pearse Street Garda station for questioning.

Gardaí charged him on Friday evening with offences under the Criminal Damage Act, which can carry a maximum 10-year sentence.

Unemployed Mr O’Callaghan, who has yet to indicate a plea, was brought to court on Saturday.

Dressed in a red T-shirt, navy tracksuit bottoms and runners, he sat calmly at the side of the courtroom and remained silent for most of the contested bail hearing.

He is accused of damaging the entrance gate at Phoenix Gate Lodge, Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park, D8.

He was further charged with three counts of criminal damage around the houses of the Oireachtas: the main gates of the Department of an Taoiseach, Merrion St Upper, the rear gates of Leinster House, Merrion Square West, and the North Road gate at Government Buildings, Merrion St Upper.

He is also accused of damaging the main gates of the Custom House, Dublin 1.

Garda William McCarthy gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and said Mr O’Callaghan “made no reply”.

Citing the seriousness of the case, the garda told Judge Aylmer the accused’s mental health problems had exacerbated, and the officer feared he would commit other offences and was a danger to the public and his family.

However, the judge held that the evidence outlined was not sufficient to refuse bail outright and imposed a range of strict conditions.

Garda McCarthy claimed Mr O’Callaghan drove his father’s van “reversed into the main gate of Áras an Uachtaráin”, causing €4,750 worth of damage there.

The court heard allegations that the accused drove into the city centre to the Custom House and arrived there at 2:26 am.

Garda McCarthy maintained he “swerved without warning in the direction of the gates of the Custom House.” He collided head-on, but the gates absorbed the impact.

It was alleged that the accused then turned and reversed. The second impact forced the gate open and damaged the locking mechanism, and evidence from the vehicle was left behind.

It was claimed that the 2017-reg van went to Government Buildings and arrived at Merrion Square at 2:30 am when it “swerved suddenly and without warning in the direction of the rear gates of Leinster House.”

There were anti-ramming barriers, but severe damage was still caused. A garda was on duty at the rear of Leinster House in a hut near the gates.

The van reversed onto the road, went 20 metres, and swerved out of the way of another road user. “The van stopped outside the Attorney General’s office before reversing at speed into the North Road gate at Government Buildings.”

The court heard the force caused the gate to cascade inwards, come off its hinges, and smash the windows of an unmanned wooden military post.

“Severe damage was caused to the gate, structure and fittings, and as a result, an entrance to Government Buildings was completely breached and left wide open,” the garda said.

He alleged the van then took off, avoiding another road user before suddenly swerving without warning into the gates of An Taoiseach’s department at Merrion Street Upper, causing them to buckle inwards and break.

There was a barrier on the inside, but severe damage was caused.

Upon impact with the last gate, the van’s airbags deployed, and it was immobilised.

Garda McCarthy said the driver got out and used his phone to take a photo of the crashed van “lodged” in the gates of an Taoiseach’s department.

Mr O’Callaghan was arrested at the scene, and the van was seized.

The garda said the incidents were captured on CCTV. He added that during his interviews, the accused was adamant that he did not intend to enter any government building but wanted to “carry out as much damage as he could.”

Garda McCarthy said the accused had “delusional fantasies” and said he had taken his father’s work van without permission at 1 am on Friday.

The court heard he told gardai he believed his family members were not real and that they had been replaced by actors, spiking him with drugs and waking him every day at 5 am with an aerosol hallucinogenic.

The court heard the accused believed members of the government, social welfare and the president were also orchestrating this and ramming the gates would “put an end to the torment he had been subjected to”.

The court heard he allegedly posted the photo on social media to raise awareness of his situation.

The court heard that gardaí must obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) about pressing more serious charges and whether the case will remain in the District Court or proceed on indictment to the Circuit Court with broader sentencing powers.

Gardaí would be looking to have it dealt with at the higher level.

Defence barrister Karl Monahan (instructed by solicitor Eddie O’Connor) said his client would obey several conditions.

The garda agreed with the barrister that Mr O’Callaghan was not a man of means but said the conditions proposed would not satisfy him.

The officer accepted that it could take several weeks for the DPP’s directions to be available and for a book of evidence to be prepared for his trial.

The accused raised his hand and asked to speak during the closing stages of his barrister’s submissions, but the judge refused permission to do so.

Pleading for bail, counsel argued that denying the application could be disproportionate and result in lengthy “oppressive pretrial incarceration” for a person who still enjoyed the presumption of innocence.

Mr O’Callaghan has yet to indicate a plea.

The judge granted legal aid and directed medical and psychiatric attention for the accused in custody.

The bail terms state that once the surety has been organised, Mr O’Callaghan must provide a contact phone number, obey an 11 pm to 6 am curfew, not contact public representatives, stay out of the city centre except for court hearings, not go to parts of Phoenix Park, engage with treatment, sign on two days a week at a garda station, not post on social media about the case or drive any motor vehicle.

He will face his next hearing on 8 August at Cloverhill District Court.