Dublin Father-of-Three Granted Bail in Violent Clondalkin Assault Case

 Dublin,  – A father-of-three accused of participating in a brutal assault in Clondalkin, Dublin, where a man suffered the amputation of two fingers, has been granted bail following a contested hearing at Dublin District Court. Bernard Mongan Sr, 42, a widower from Deansrath Grove, Clondalkin, faces charges of assault causing harm, production of an implement as a weapon, and burglary in connection with the May 9 incident.

Garda Shane O’Brien informed Judge William Aylmer that the attack involved multiple armed males chasing a 29-year-old man through the Bawnogue area for approximately 25 minutes. The victim, seeking refuge, entered a stranger’s home at Kilcronan View, where he pleaded with the homeowner to call the gardaí and an ambulance. However, the assailants followed him inside, with the homeowner reporting hearing the victim shout, “Leave me alone, leave me alone.” The assault took place in a child’s room, where the man sustained severe injuries, including the loss of his thumb and index finger on his left hand, and a deep cut to his middle finger, described as “hanging on by skin only.” Garda O’Brien noted that an acidic liquid, suspected to be ammonia, was thrown on the victim, and his hand will never fully function again despite surgical attempts to reattach the fingers.

The court heard that weapons used in the attack included a claw hammer, a machete, and a bottle believed to contain ammonia, with Mongan allegedly in possession of the hammer and bottle. Evidence presented included CCTV footage from the area and signs of forced entry, such as a snapped internal door handle and a bent external handle on the child’s room door. An off-duty nurse who attempted to assist the victim also required hospital treatment after inhaling ammonia fumes and will be unable to work for weeks.

Garda O’Brien opposed bail, citing the case’s severity, the strength of evidence, and concerns over potential witness interference, as the accused and victim live in close proximity. However, defense counsel Kevin McCrave, instructed by solicitor Simon Fleming, argued that Mongan was not a flight risk, having lived most of his life at his family home and voluntarily arranging to meet gardaí for his arrest. McCrave also challenged the reliance on hearsay evidence and the absence of prosecution witnesses at the hearing.

Judge Aylmer ruled that bail conditions could mitigate witness intimidation concerns, noting the lack of direct evidence linking Mongan to the injuries and the absence of testifying witnesses. Bail was set at €1,000 with a €300 cash lodgement, alongside strict conditions: a 10 pm to 7 am curfew, residency at his current address, notification of any address change to gardaí, and daily sign-ins at his local garda station. Mongan, who is unemployed and receives €480 weekly in social welfare, was granted legal aid and remanded in custody with consent to bail, with his next appearance scheduled for May 27 at Blanchardstown District Court.

Two other suspects, a 17-year-old boy and a man in his 20s, were charged earlier in the week and have also been granted bail under similar terms.