BREAKING: Man before court after Kildare student seriously assaulted leaving gym in broad daylight

A man has appeared before Naas District Court after a 22 year old student sustained serious facial injuries in a completely unprovoked attack.

Szymon Flizikowski, 27, whose address was given as 3 Clarendon House, Newbridge Road, Naas, is being prosecuted for alleged assault causing harm near Newbridge Road on November 18.

The court was told that the defendant made no reply when charged and the gardaí objected to bail being granted. Sgt Mary Meade described the incident as a random, unprovoked attack.

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Garda Shauna Hough told the court the injured party was walking home from the gym and was using earphones when the defendant appeared in front of him.

The garda added that the defendant claimed he was owed money and assaulted him.

The court also heard that the injured party, a law student, was assisted by members of the public following the alleged assault.

He sustained a fractured eye socket and a broken nose.

Gda Hough said he was very shaken after the incident and struggled to see the gardaí. The gardaí took him to Naas Hospital before noon and he was later transferred to St James’s Hospital.

She said the victim was totally innocent, does not know the defendant and does not owe him money.

She said the gardaí later encountered the defendant in the area coming across the road. She said the defendant  realised after he assaulted him that he was not who he thought and the defendant did not know the injured party.

The defendant is originally Polish and she believes he has been in Ireland since he was 14.

Solicitor Brian Larkin said the defendant had spent time in the Lakeview Unit in Naas and had been discharged six months previously.

Mr Larkin said that as part of bail conditions he would undertake to return there and otherwise stay out of Naas as well as surrendering his passport. Mr Larkin added the defendant had had mental health difficulties.

He said the defendant had no connection with the injured party and no history of committing offences on bail.

Gda Hough said no bail conditions would allay her fears.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said he was satisfied that the objections were well founded in law and strict bail conditions would not be appropriate, adding the defendant has “a propensity for violence (and is a serious danger to the public."

The defendant was remanded in custody until November 21.