A MAN ACCUSED of “deliberately” ramming the gates of Áras an Uachtaráin with his car, causing more than €10,000, has been remanded on bail pending directions from the DPP.

Ronan Dunne, 58, of Griffin Rath Hall, Maynooth, Co Kildare, was held by Judge Paula Murphy last Friday on €6,000 bail after being charged with criminal damage following the incident at 4PM on 10 October this year.

He took up bail and faced his second hearing at Dublin District Court today when the judge noted that Gardai needed directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The accused, who has yet to enter a plea, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again on 17 January.

Last week, Garda Emma Gilmore alleged that a colleague on duty at Phoenix Gate Lodge saw a 2013-registered Hyundai car coming along, and the CCTV showed it reversing into the Phoenix Gates.

She estimated that there was in excess of €10,000 worth of damage.

The court heard that the garda witness secured the car keys from the vehicle, which had a piece of cardboard near the windscreen.

Written on it was a series of letters and digits and “criminal organisation controlling my family; call the Criminal Assets Bureau or Gardaí”.

The court heard the entire incident was captured on CCTV. It was claimed that the accused made admissions following his arrest that he “deliberately drove into the gates of Áras an Uachtaráin to get help for his family”. He genuinely believed and maintained to gardai that a criminal organisation controlled his family.

However, the officer stressed that gardai were satisfied that the family had no connections to crime.

The judge heard he had no prior convictions, but the garda expected he would face trial on indictment in the Circuit Court. However, gardaí still need to obtain that decision from the DPP.

Defence solicitor Paul Byrne said his client’s alleged comment to gardaí suggested his state of mind, and the garda accepted it was a medical issue. “Yes, there were several notes in the car,” said Gilmore.

Byrne said his client had lived at his current address for about eight years, and he got on well there.

The solicitor pleaded with the court to impose bail conditions on his client, saying he did not need to come into Dublin and would stay out of public buildings and Phoenix Park.

Judge Murphy said that it appeared he was caught red-handed, and she understood the State’s concerns. However, she held that he could be granted bail with conditions in his bond of €1,000 and a €5,000 independent surety.

Having taken up the bail, he must reside at his current address, sign on daily at a garda station, be contactable on a mobile phone 24 hours a day, stay out of Dublin and public buildings, including Áras an Uachtaráin and Leinster House, except for court appearances, not drive any motor vehicle and “get appropriate medical advice”.