Man dies after Leopardstown violent disorder; two remanded in custody

A 24-year-old man has died in hospital after a large-scale violent confrontation at a south Dublin business park. Two men have been remanded in custody.

Man dies from injuries sustained in violent confrontation at Leopardstown business park

A 24-year-old man who suffered catastrophic injuries during a large-scale violent confrontation at a south Co Dublin business park at the weekend has died, TheJournal.ie reports, with the death confirmed in court as a bail hearing was under way.

Siminic Rostas died at Beaumont Hospital intensive care unit after his life support was switched off. The news reached Dún Laoghaire District Court at 12.59pm on Tuesday — precisely as a bail hearing for one of the accused commenced before Judge Conor Fottrell.

Two accused appear in court

Kevin Rostas (21), a construction worker and father of one, of Harrington Street, Dublin 8, and Cristian Demian (23), a metalworker and father of three, of Howth Road, Raheny, appeared before the court on Tuesday. Both were charged with violent disorder at the South County Business Park in Leopardstown on Saturday evening. Mr Demian faces an additional charge of assault causing harm to Siminic Rostas. Both men were assisted in court by an interpreter. Bail was denied to both, and more serious charges are anticipated.

What gardaí found

Detective Garda David Buckley and Detective Garda Michael Doheny told the court that at 8.25pm on Saturday, officers received a report of a large-scale disturbance involving several males engaged in violence at an abandoned premises. Gardaí arrived to find three males, including Siminic Rostas, significantly injured, all requiring hospitalisation.

Initial inquiries established that approximately 15 people, members of the Roma community, had been residing at the abandoned premises for several months. The accused and three others are alleged to have arrived at the premises claiming they were there to collect personal property belonging to someone at the location.

"Initially, there was a verbal dispute which escalated suddenly to violence, and the subject of this row remains the subject of the Garda investigation," the detectives told the court.

Weapons visible on CCTV

A sustained physical confrontation involving the defendants and three males against four occupants of the premises followed. CCTV footage captured significant portions of the incident and showed that lethal weapons and implements — including poles, sticks and shovels — were used during the fight.

Both Kevin Rostas and Mr Demian were clearly visible on CCTV actively participating in the confrontation. Mr Demian reluctantly identified himself in the footage. Kevin Rostas was seen striking other males on a number of occasions; he maintains he acted in self-defence. Detective Garda Doheny told the court that Mr Demian struck the severely injured man twice with a shovel, "rendering him unconscious and inflicting catastrophic injuries." The deceased was also struck after he had lost consciousness, the court heard.

Threatening messages alleged

During Kevin Rostas's bail hearing, it was alleged that one of the other hospitalised men had received several threatening messages on his phone, including statements that there would be "retribution", "this is not the end of it", and "your brother is next."

Gardaí expressed concern that the incident had escalated rapidly into a confrontation involving multiple individuals with weapons. Both detectives objected to bail, citing a flight risk given each man's connections to Romania.

Kevin Rostas was not legally represented due to the ongoing solicitors' strike, which has seen solicitors withdraw services in District Court legal aid cases over payment reforms. He told the court via an interpreter that he had lived in Ireland for 12 years, attended school here, and that all his family — including his parents — were based in the country. He has no previous convictions. His reply to the charge was: "I didn't threaten. I never had any trouble."

Privately retained defence solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, representing Mr Demian, submitted that his client had presented himself voluntarily at Raheny Garda Station and had been cooperative — pointing out that Mr Demian had an 18-hour window in which he could have fled. Mr Demian has lived in Ireland since 2009 or 2010; his parents, children, and partner are all based here, and he was in full-time employment at the time of his arrest. His employer of eight years gave evidence, describing him as pleasant, dependable and skilled. In interview, Mr Demian put forward self-defence. His reply to charges after caution was: "I never said anything serious to anybody, I didn't go there to fight."

Mr O'Mahony also noted there were no pathology reports yet and that the case was "very far removed" from being able to test the evidence. He warned his client could face up to two years on remand awaiting trial.

Judge Fottrell held that gardaí had established sufficient grounds for a flight risk, ruling that both men were likely to evade justice. They were remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 8 September.

Third accused granted conditional bail

On Monday, a third man, Augustin Rostas (22), with addresses at Convent Place, Hatch Street Lower, and Kevin Street, Dublin 2, faced the same charge and allegations. He was granted conditional bail, remanded in custody pending a €1,000 lodgement and an address check. On taking up bail he must have no contact with witnesses. He is due to appear in court again on Friday.

Violent disorder and assault causing harm each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Source: TheJournal.ie