Gardaí discovered a suspected petrol bomb after responding to reports that a man threatened to burn down his ex-partner’s home in Dublin, a court has heard.
Gerard Tier (30), of Swiss Cottage, Santry, Dublin, was arrested in the early hours of Friday following an incident at his former partner's home in Ballymun.
He was charged with threatening to cause criminal damage.
Garda Dylan Maloney told Judge Cephas Power at Dublin District Court on Saturday that the father-of-two made no reply when charged. Objecting to bail, he cited the seriousness of the case.
A petrol bomb was found under the kitchen sink at Mr Tier’s house, it was alleged. Garda Maloney also said it was claimed the accused had threatened to burn the house down.
Mr Tier gave a statement to gardaí denying the allegation.
The court was told the accused had been in a relationship with the complainant, which was described by his solicitor Damien Coffey as “on, off”.
The nature of the emergency call had been that Mr Tier “was threatening to burn the house down”, the garda said.
Mr Coffey said his client’s account is that he was there with consent and they had been drinking. The garda accepted the accused had been there as a guest until the threat.
The accused was on crutches and had to have hospital treatment for a leg injury following his arrest. He has provided a statement to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the solicitor told the court.
Mr Coffey said his client would abide by bail conditions and was giving an undertaking through the solicitor to stay away from his former partner, who did not attend the proceedings.
Judge Power granted bail, subject to a number of conditions.
Mr Tier, who is unemployed, was granted legal aid and ordered to appear again in October.