A MAN accused of stabbing another man eight times in a Valentine’s Day knife attack in Limerick was further remanded in custody for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Moudar Friha (23), with an address at Fuchisa Avenue, Caherdavin, who was first brought before a special sitting of Limerick District Court last Saturday, appeared before the court again on Tuesday via videolink from Limerick Prison, where he is being held on remand.
Mr Friha is charged with possession of a knife and assault causing harm to the alleged victim at Caherdavin Park on February 14.
The alleged victim, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions imposed by a judge, was allegedly stabbed by Mr Friha eight times, including to his stomach, his side, one of his arms, and one of his thighs.
Detective Garda Ronan Humphreys told the court that after he arrested and charged Mr Friha, the accused “made no reply” to the charges.
During a contested bail hearing last weekend before Judge Patricia Harney, Detective Garda Humphreys alleged that, in his opinion, if granted bail, Mr Friha would “commit further serious offences”.
Outlining the alleged facts, Detective Garda Humphreys said the accused called to the alleged victim’s home on Valentine’s Day and asked for him for a cigarette and to go for a walk.
At Caherdavin Park, the court heard, Mr Friha began acting strange, asking weird questions of the man, speaking in Arabaic and staring.
When the alleged victim began walking away from Mr Friha, originally born in Syria, the accused followed him.
Detective Garda Humphreys alleged Mr Friha “tackled” the man and “stabbed him once in the stomach, twice in the arm, once in his side, and three times in the thigh”.
The alleged victim told Gardaí he initially felt a pain but thought he had been punched, until he noticed blood and felt a pain in his leg, the court heard.
The Detective Garda agreed with Mr Friha’s barrister, junior counsel Liam Carroll, that members of An Garda Síochána had visited the accused’s house four hours prior to the alleged stabbing, after a family member had contacted services about the accused’s mental health.
Detective Garda Humphreys said Gardaí spoke to Mr Friha at his home and he appeared to be placid.
He further objected to bail on the grounds of the “nature and strength” of the alleged evidence against the accused, which included blood-stained clothing, a knife, and the fact that, he said, the attack was unprovoked.
Mr Friha’s barrister, Mr Carroll, put it to the Detective Garda that the accused had said he “felt the alleged victim was giving him threatening eyes”.
Mr Carroll asked Mr Friha if he felt he would be a risk to anyone if he was granted bail, to which he responded, “no, not a risk”.
Garda Inspector Barry Manton objected to bail in the “strongest terms”.
“This individual armed himself with a knife, coaxed the victim outside and proceeded to stab him,” alleged Inspector Manton.
The Inspector said it was the State’s view that the accused may have been suffering from a “delusion” at the time and that “there is an extreme risk to the public if this individual is granted bail”.
Judge Patricia Harney said Mr Friha enjoyed the presumption of innocence, however she said she was satisfied to refuse him bail, given the seriousness of the charges, the nature and strength of the alleged evidence, and “that such a refusal is reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence taking place”.
She directed Mr Friha receive all necessary medical and psychiatric assistance from the State and remanded him in custody to appear before Limerick District Court for DPP directions on March 4.
