The Daily Star Ireland
A 23-year-old man has been formally charged in connection with the stabbing of a garda officer in central Dublin on Tuesday. The incident occurred during a high-visibility patrol and left the injured officer requiring hospital treatment before being discharged later that evening.
Charges and Court Proceedings
The accused, Abdullah Khan, appeared before Dublin District Court on Wednesday following his arrest the previous night. Khan, whose home address is being withheld under a court order for safety reasons, is facing two charges. The first is for assault causing harm to a garda on Capel Street on July 29. The second relates to the possession of a knife capable of inflicting serious injury, brought under Ireland’s Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Detective Sergeant Liam McLaughlin, who was present during the arrest, told the court that Khan was detained at 11:04 p.m. and formally charged about 45 minutes later at the Bridewell Garda Station. According to McLaughlin, Khan did not respond when the charges were put to him under caution.
Bail and Legal Representation
The prosecution indicated an intention to oppose any bail application. However, defence solicitor Colleen Gildernew told the court her client would not seek bail at this time. Judge Treasa Kelly instructed that gardaí be given 24 hours’ notice should a bail application be made at a later stage.
Gildernew also requested medical treatment for Khan while in custody and successfully applied for reporting restrictions on the publication of his address, citing concerns for his safety. She further noted that a statement of Khan’s financial means would be submitted the following week.
Next Steps in the Case
Judge Kelly approved the application for free legal aid and remanded Khan in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for next Wednesday at Cloverhill District Court.
The incident has raised broader concerns about the risks facing officers on frontline duty. While no official comment has been made by An Garda Síochána beyond confirmation of the arrest and the garda’s release from hospital, the case is likely to draw attention to security measures and protections for officers involved in street-level policing.
