An 18-year-old man has been charged with the manslaughter of Ryan Weir Gibbons in Kildare town last month.
Ryan Murphy, with an address at Curragh Plains, Collaghknock Glebe, Kildare town, was arrested at his family home on Friday and appeared at Naas District Court.
An application for bail was made by the accused’s solicitor, David Powderly, but refused by Judge Desmond Zaidan.
The court heard that in the early morning of October 26th, the accused, who is studying to be a rugby coach, was travelling home on a bus with friends after a night out.
Mr Weir Gibbons, who was on the same bus, was said to have complained of the noise levels and asked that they be lowered. The court also heard that the dispute allegedly involved the holding of T-shirts.
The accused and Mr Weir Gibbons got off the bus at different stops but subsequently encountered each other again where there was another alleged physical altercation at 3.07am.
The court also heard it alleged that a violent blow knocked Mr Weir Gibbons to the ground.
Mr Weir Gibbons was found unresponsive on Magee Terrace, off Curragh Road in the centre of Kildare town, at about 3.15am on October 26th.
The court heard that Mr Weir Gibbons was then taken to Naas General hospital, where he died on October 30th.
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Judge Zaidan said the court was satisfied that the objection by the State to the bail application was well founded in fact and law.
Mr Powderly had proffered a number of strict bail conditions that his client, who had already surrendered his passport to gardaí, was prepared to undertake. These included that his client’s father would act as independent surety in the sum of €10,000 in cash.
Judge Zaidan said the accused was presumed innocent and that there is a presumption in law in favour of granting bail but that that presumption can be rebutted.
The objections of the State to bail included the seriousness of the charge and if the accused was convicted, the possible imposition of a life sentence, subject to the discretion of the sentencing judge and jury.
Garda Sgt Pat Dunne gave evidence that the accused had made the assertion that he acted in self defence, which Mr Powderly said would be a matter for the jury.
Judge Zaidan directed that the accused appear before the court again on November 26th.
