Ireland Stephen O'Rourke granted bail over threat to cause criminal damage at Athy hotel
Stephen O'Rourke, 43, of Athy, appeared at Naas District Court on 12 January 2023 charged with a threat of criminal damage and two counts of trespassing at The Abbey in Athy, a property set to house asylum seekers. Judge Desmond Zaidan accepted jurisdiction and granted bail with conditions, with the case adjourned to Athy District Court on 14 February 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested12 Jan
- Chargednot reported
- In court9 Jan
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA male was arrested as part of the investigation into alleged threats to cause criminal damage. (garda.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested in Athy as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged threats to cause criminal damage to a residential property. (kildarenow.com)
- whatO'Rourke was recording himself and streaming on Facebook Live at the property. (kildarenow.com)
- whatHe allegedly said he would light the building up like a Christmas tree. (kildarenow.com)
- whatHe allegedly returned to the property the next day, constituting a trespassing offence. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe threats were directed at a residential property in Athy, County Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a residential property on Stanhope Street in Athy. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe alleged incident took place at The Abbey Hotel, Stanhope Street, Athy, on Monday (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident took place at The Abbey in Athy. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on Monday 9 January 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe threatening behaviour occurred on 9 January 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe arrest took place on 12 January 2023 in the County Kildare area. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Kildare Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationThe investigation is ongoing. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationStephen O'Rourke was arrested outside his home in Athy on Thursday morning as part of a Garda investigation into alleged threats to cause damage to the hotel (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí took up position outside the hotel as part of a local policing plan to monitor the protest (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe male has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeStephen O'Rourke was charged with threatening to commit arson at The Abbey Hotel in Athy (irishtimes.com)
- chargeStephen O'Rourke was also accused of two counts of trespassing (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with a threat of criminal damage and two counts of trespassing. (kildarenow.com)
- courtHe appeared before Naas District Court on 12 January 2023. (garda.ie)
- courtStephen O'Rourke was ordered to stay 500 metres away from the hotel (irishtimes.com)
- courtStephen O'Rourke was ordered not to contact the hotel's staff or residents (irishtimes.com)
- courtStephen O'Rourke was remanded on bail to appear before the District Court again on 14 February (irishtimes.com)
- courtStephen O'Rourke appeared in Naas District Court on 12 January 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- courtJudge Desmond Zaidan accepted jurisdiction and granted bail with conditions. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned to Athy District Court on 14 February 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- otherStephen O'Rourke was helping to organise an anti-asylum protest planned for Athy on Thursday night (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe protest was one of about a dozen demonstrations scheduled around the country (irishtimes.com)
- otherForeign nationals applying for international protection were moved into the hotel that week (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Department of Integration said families, some single women and children are being housed in the Abbey Hotel complex (irishtimes.com)
- otherThere are 94 places in the Abbey Hotel complex (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Abbey Hotel complex will be operating as a direct provision centre for at least the next seven weeks (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Abbey will soon be used to house 94 asylum seekers, mostly women and children. (kildarenow.com)
- otherWhen cautioned, he replied 'no comment' to all three counts. (kildarenow.com)
- otherBail conditions include staying 500 metres from The Abbey, keeping the peace, no contact with staff or residents, and no mentioning them on social media. (kildarenow.com)
- otherGarda Sergeant Brian Jacob noted that a property proposed to house displaced Ukrainians in Kill burned down the previous November. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Jan2023Man in Naas Court over alleged threat to cause criminal damage to hotel
Court appearance and bail conditions reported; case adjourned to Athy District Court on 14 February 2023.
accused, Stephen O' Rourke, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen O' Rourke - 12 Jan2023Man charged with threatening to burn down asylum seeker accommodation
Adds that O'Rourke is a National Party supporter who was helping organise an anti-asylum protest in Athy that night, the specific bail conditions (500 metres from hotel, no contact with staff/residents), the remand date of 14 February 2023, details that the hotel has 94 places and will operate as a direct provision centre for at least seven weeks, and comments from the Department of Integration and Minister for Justice Simon Harris describing the protests as bordering on intimidation.
accused, Stephen O'Rourke, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen O'Rourke - 12 Jan2023Man arrested by Kildare Gardaí over alleged threatening behaviour in Athy
Confirms the arrest on 12 January 2023 of a man in his 30s, detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Kildare Garda Station, with the investigation ongoing.
suspect, 30s, male - 9 Jan2023Update on Arrest - Threats to Cause Criminal Damage, Athy, County Kildare, 9th January 2023
Garda press release confirming the male was charged and appeared before Naas District Court on 12 January 2023.
accused, male