Ireland Case No. 23364Violent disorder; production of a knife · Co. Kerry · 1 Jan 2023
Eight asylum seekers charged over violent disorder at Hotel Killarney
Eight men, four Algerian and four Georgian asylum seekers, were charged with violent disorder at Hotel Killarney in Killarney, Co Kerry, on 1 January 2023, an incident that left four people with knife injuries requiring hospital treatment. Seven were remanded on bail at Killarney District Court while Fouad Mekhazni, also charged with producing a knife, was remanded in custody.
- Reported2 Jan
- Arrested1 Jan
9 reports - Charged1 Jan
4 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports121 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA public order incident occurred at a hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry, on 1 January 2023. (garda.ie)
- whatThe four men arrested on 2 January are all aged in their 30s. (garda.ie)
- whatA large-scale incident involving suspected stabbings occurred at Hotel Killarney (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour males were injured and removed from the scene to hospital for treatment (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injuries were described as not life-threatening (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour people were hospitalised in the incident. (extra.ie)
- whatThe incident was a suspected stabbing. (extra.ie)
- whatFour men were taken to hospital with reported stab injuries (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe injuries are described as non-life threatening (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour men were injured in the incident (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe injuries were stab injuries (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe injuries were described as non-life-threatening (corkbeo.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 30s were arrested at the scene (corkbeo.ie)
- whatFour people required hospital treatment for stab wounds. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSix men are in custody in connection with the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe clash was between two groups of men from eastern Europe and north Africa. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA stabbing spree occurred at Hotel Killarney (gript.ie)
- whatFour men were taken to hospital for treatment after the stabbings (gript.ie)
- whatThe injuries are not believed to be life-threatening (gript.ie)
- whatThe incident broke out in one corridor and spilled out to another corridor (gript.ie)
- whatSix men, all in their 30s, have been arrested in total. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGardaí described the incident as a public order incident. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatFour men were brought to hospital with stab injuries. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe stab injuries were described as non-life threatening. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatAll persons who received medical treatment have been released from hospital. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatA row between two groups of foreign nationals led to four men being stabbed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOne victim was left with his finger hanging off. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe incident involved Algerians and Georgians. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man visiting from a separate direct provision centre in another county was thrown out of the hotel. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter officers left, the row kicked off again leading to the stabbings. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA Georgian man in his 30s was arrested but later taken to hospital with multiple knife wounds. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe four injured men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were taken to hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour people were taken to hospital for treatment for stab wounds following the fight. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSix men were charged in connection with a public order incident at a Direct Provision centre in Co Kerry (corkbeo.ie)
- whatAll six men are in their 30s (corkbeo.ie)
- whatFour men were brought to hospital by ambulance with stab injuries (corkbeo.ie)
- whatAll persons who received medical treatment have since been released from hospital (corkbeo.ie)
- whatEight men were arrested in connection with a public order incident (extra.ie)
- whatThe incident resulted in four people needing hospital treatment. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAll eight defendants were asylum seekers and residents at Hotel Killarney at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour people had to be treated for knife injuries. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHotel Killarney is a large hotel in Co Kerry currently used as a direct provision centre (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred at Killarney Hotel. (extra.ie)
- whereThe hotel is used as a Direct Provision Centre. (extra.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at a hotel in Killarney, County Kerry, used for direct provision (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at a Direct Provision centre in County Kerry (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe arrested men were brought to Killarney Garda Station (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe violent clash occurred at a hotel being used as a direct provision centre in Killarney, Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe men were being accommodated at a reception centre for asylum seekers at the Hotel Killarney on Park Road. (irishtimes.com)
- where400 migrants are housed at Hotel Killarney as part of the asylum application process (gript.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a hotel currently used for direct provision. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe hotel is currently being used for direct provision (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe six men were being accommodated at a reception centre for asylum seekers at the Hotel Killarney on Park Road. (irishtimes.com)
- whereEmergency services were called to a hotel in Killarney used for direct provision (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a hotel in County Kerry (extra.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Hotel Killarney on Park Road, Killarney. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí and other emergency services were called to the incident at around 8.30pm (irishtimes.com)
- whenEmergency services were called to the hotel shortly after 8:30pm on 1 January 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenEmergency services were called shortly after 8.30pm (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 1 January 2023 (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Sunday, 1 January, at a hotel in Killarney. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe four additional men were arrested on Monday, 2 January. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe public order incident occurred at a hotel in Killarney on 1 January 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred shortly after 8:30 pm on Sunday 1 January 2023 (corkbeo.ie)
- causeThe incident was sparked by a dispute which Gardaí attended about half an hour beforehand. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponAt least one of the perpetrators may have been armed with a knife which he wielded during the fracas. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSix people were arrested in connection with the incident. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is ongoing. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationFour further arrests were made on 2 January 2023. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe four men were detained at Tralee and Killarney Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (garda.ie)
- investigationTwo other men remain in Garda custody. (garda.ie)
- investigationTwo men in their 30s were arrested and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Killarney Garda Station (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA forensic examination was under way at the scene on Sunday night (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe scene was cordoned off and Garda technical experts were due to carry out a forensic examination on Monday morning (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo men in their 30s were arrested and detained at Killarney Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda forensic examination of the scene has taken place (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested men were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationA Garda forensic examination of the scene took place (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested and taken to Killarney Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFour more men were detained on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAll six men are detained at Tralee and Killarney Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí remained at the hotel throughout the night. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí arrested another four men in connection with the stabbing (gript.ie)
- investigationUp to six ambulances and additional Garda vehicles were called to the scene (gript.ie)
- investigationGardaí took two men into custody the previous night (gript.ie)
- investigationGardaí made four more arrests after a violent incident at a Direct Provision centre in Co Kerry. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe four men are detained at Tralee and Killarney Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe two men arrested on New Year's Day remain in Garda custody. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe an Algerian man in his 30s is the main suspect. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFive people were arrested in connection with the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men in their 20s and 30s were arrested on 3 January 2023 in the Killarney area (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBoth new arrestees are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Killarney Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA total of eight people have been arrested and detained as part of the investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo of the men had been arrested on the night, while four were arrested on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo further men were arrested on Tuesday morning by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two further men are being detained at Killarney Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí recovered a knife at the scene and sent it for forensic analysis. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe incident was captured on CCTV and Mekhazni was identifiable on the footage. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAll six arrested have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeAll eight were charged under Section 15 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 for violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeFouad Mekhazni was additionally charged with production of a knife under Section 11 of the Offensive Weapons and Firearms Act 1990. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAll six are expected to appear at Killarney District Court on 3 January 2023 at 10:30am. (garda.ie)
- courtAll six charged men were expected to appear before Killarney District Court on Tuesday 3 January at 10:30am. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe six men were due to appear at Killarney District Court at 10:30 am on 3 January 2023 (corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe eight men appeared at Killarney District Court on Tuesday 3 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFouad Mekhazni was remanded in custody to appear at Tralee District Court on 4 January 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtFree legal aid was granted to all seven men on bail. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAll persons who received medical treatment following the incident have been released from hospital. (garda.ie)
- otherAbout half of the 400 residents at Hotel Killarney are female direct provision applicants (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe hotel houses about 400 people. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKASI provides assistance to about 400 asylum seekers in Killarney in three long-established centres. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe KASI drop-in advice centre is also dealing with 3,000 Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Killarney since March. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBefore Christmas, gardaí were called to intervene following a clash between a small number of males including some residents from Hotel Killarney and another premises in the area. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe hotel was designated as a centre for non-Ukrainians claiming asylum (gript.ie)
- otherUkrainian women and children who arrived in March were moved from the hotel in October (gript.ie)
- otherHotel Killarney is being used as a direct provision centre for around 400 refugees. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHalf of the residents are believed to be men of about 13 different nationalities. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA large garda presence descended on the hotel. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBail conditions included residing at new addresses, a curfew between 10pm and 8am, signing on at a local Garda station three times a week, providing mobile phone numbers, not applying for new travel documents, and staying out of Killarney save for court appearances. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMekhazni's defence claimed he was acting in self-defence and denied having a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí said Mekhazni was the only party to the fracas armed with a knife. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Jan2023Eight men charged in connection with violent disorder at Kerry asylum seeker centre
First report of the charges and bail hearing at Killarney District Court on 3 January 2023. Details the eight defendants, their nationalities, the specific charges, bail conditions, and the custody remand of Fouad Mekhazni.
suspect, Fouad Mekhazni, 27, male, Algerian, named, non-irishFouad Mekhaznisuspect, Rabah Kouchih, 31, male, Algerian, named, non-irishRabah Kouchihsuspect, Allal Bahzit, 27, male, Algerian, named, non-irishAllal Bahzitsuspect, Mounir Fadli, 34, male, Algerian, named, non-irishMounir Fadlisuspect, Zurabi Muqtiasvili, 36, male, Georgian, named, non-irishZurabi Muqtiasvilisuspect, Levani Guliashvili, 32, male, Georgian, named, non-irishLevani Guliashvilisuspect, Giorgi Basharadze, 33, male, Georgian, named, non-irishGiorgi Basharadzesuspect, Amiran Meparishivili, 36, male, Georgian, named, non-irishAmiran Meparishivilivictim - 3 Jan2023Eight Men Arrested In Connection With Public Order Incident In Co Kerry Hotel
Article body is largely website template code; only the headline provides substantive information about eight men being arrested over a public order incident at a Kerry hotel.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 3 Jan2023Six men charged after multiple stabbings in Kerry refugee centre
Confirms the six charged men are all in their 30s, that the stab injuries were described as non-life-threatening, and that all persons who received medical treatment have since been released from hospital.
suspect, 30s, male - 3 Jan2023Two further arrests over stabbing incident at Killarney hotel
Reports two additional arrests bringing the total to eight men connected to the incident, and confirms the six previously arrested men were charged and due to appear at Killarney District Court on 3 January 2023.
suspect, malesuspect, male - 3 Jan2023Gardai make further arrests after 'multiple stabbings' at hotel in Kerry
Reports two further arrests on 3 January 2023 bringing total detained to eight; confirms four men taken to hospital with non-life-threatening stab injuries; notes the hotel is used for direct provision and a Garda forensic examination of the scene has taken place.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 3 Jan2023Man's finger left 'hanging off' after knife fight at asylum centre hotel
Adds detail that the stabbings were preceded by a dispute Gardaí attended about 30 minutes earlier, identifies the main suspect as an Algerian man in his 30s (one of five arrested), notes a Georgian man in his 30s was arrested and taken to hospital with multiple knife wounds, and describes one victim's finger as 'hanging off.'
suspect, 30s, male, Algerian, non-irishsuspect, 30s, male, Georgian, non-irishvictim, 20s and 30s, male - 3 Jan2023Four more arrests made after multiple stabbings in Kerry refugee centre
Reports four additional arrests made on 2 January 2023, bringing the total to six; confirms all four injured men have been released from hospital; the two men arrested on New Year's Day remain in Garda custody; suspects detained at Tralee and Killarney Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 2 Jan20234 more arrested after stabbing at Killarney migrant centre - Gript
Reports four additional arrests (total six) in connection with the Hotel Killarney stabbing, and includes comments from Killarney Mayor Niall Kelleher expressing local anger and concern about the housing of non-Ukrainian asylum seekers.
victim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 2 Jan2023Six men in custody after Hotel Killarney knife attack
Reports the initial arrest and detention of six men following the New Year's Day melee, before charges were laid. Provides a Garda source's account that there was no prior animosity between the groups, details the use of a knife, and gives context on the hotel housing about 400 people and KASI's concerns about the concentration of asylum seekers.
victimvictimvictimvictimsuspect, 20s and 30s, malesuspect, 20s and 30s, malesuspect, 20s and 30s, malesuspect, 20s and 30s, malesuspect, 20s and 30s, malesuspect, 20s and 30s, male - 2 Jan2023Two arrests after multiple stabbings in Kerry refugee centre
Reports the initial arrests of two men in their 30s at the scene and confirms four men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening stab injuries.
victim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 2 Jan2023‘Multiple stabbings’ at hotel used for direct provision as gardai make arrests
Reports the initial arrests of two men in their 30s, confirms four men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening stab injuries, and notes that a Garda forensic examination of the scene has taken place.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male - 2 Jan2023Four Hospitalised In Suspected Stabbing At Killarney Hotel Used As Direct Provision Centre
Confirms that four people were hospitalised in the suspected stabbing and identifies the location as a hotel used as a Direct Provision Centre.
victimvictimvictimvictim - 1 Jan2023Gardaí attend scene of a number of suspected stabbings at Hotel Killarney
Initial scene report: four males injured (not life-threatening), two men in their 30s arrested at Killarney Garda Station, forensic examination underway, scene cordoned off for technical experts on Monday morning.
victim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 1 Jan2023Court Appearances - Public Order Incident, Killarney, Co. Kerry 1st January 2023
Confirms all six arrested have been charged and are due to appear at Killarney District Court on 3 January 2023; notes that all persons who received medical treatment have been released from hospital.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, malesuspect, male