LATEST: Bail refused for Kildare court defendant

An application for bail was refused for a foreign national accused of trying to hit security men with his car, and also for allegedly biting a female garda.

Ivan Matuashvili, with an address given as the Citywest Hotel in Citywest County Dublin, was accused of committing the offence on April 26 last.

On Thursday, April 27 last, it was heard at Naas District Court that the 39-year-old was denied entry into a centre for asylum seekers.

This allegedly prompted him to drive into two security people.

It was previously reported that the accused is a Russian national. However, on the latest date (Thursday, May 4), it was noted that while he speaks Russian, he is in fact from Georgia.

Gardaí objected to bail being granted for the accused citing the seriousness of the allegations against him, as well as the 'strength of the evidence against the defendant.'

Although defending solicitor David Powderly maintained that his client would abide by any bail conditions, and was willing to find accommodation and notify gardaí of said accommodation, Judge Zaidan ultimately sided with the gardaí’s argument calling it 'well-founded and sustainable in law.'

He refused bail for Mr Matuashvili, and the case will return to court on May 18, which is when directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are due.