Brothers remanded in custody pending circuit court trial
A serious and random assault is alleged to have taken place at the St. Johns River Walk in Waterford city in June.
It is alleged that a man who was jogging the route that evening was violently assaulted by two men, leaving him with serious injuries.
Thirty-one-year-old twin brothers Dale and Derek Brazil have been charged in connection with the incident and have now been sent forward for trial at Waterford Circuit Court.
An investigating garda member provided details into the incident and the ongoing investigation in court last week.
It is alleged that on June 8 at approximately 6.50pm, a man was jogging by himself on the St. John's river walk route in Waterford city.
He stopped to gather his breath and was approached by two men who began punching him in the head.
The victim fell to the ground and was kicked in the head before the two men fled the scene.
A passerby arrived and called 999.
The victim had obtained serious bleeding from his head and hands.
He was transferred to University Hospital Waterford where he received 12 staples in his head and multiple stitches in his hands. Surgery was carried out on his finger.
The investigating garda officer told the court last week that the victim did not see a weapon being used during the assault.
However, photos taken of the victim’s injuries give gardaí reason to believe that a sharp implement could have been used. A cut on the victim’s jumper also indicated the use of a sharp weapon.
The investigating officer described the alleged assault as random and unprovoked.
Following the incident, an investigation commenced and CCTV was obtained.
Footage extracted from cameras in the area showed two men which fit the description provided to gardai by the victim.
Dale Brazil of 14 Butterfield Drive, and Derek Brazil (31) of 29 Knightsgrange, were subsequently obtained.
Clothing has been seized from the home of the brother’s parents, which has been sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. Phones belonging to the pair have also been seized.
A witness who provided evidence to gardaí said that she walked past two males in the area on the evening of the attack.
She told gardaí that she heard one of them say to the other: ‘Hurry up.’
At Waterford District Court last week, both of the accused men made an application for bail.
Judge Kevin Staunton refused bail for both.
They have been remanded in custody pending trial at Waterford Circuit Court.
