Bench warrant issued for Kildare man charged with racist abuse

A MAN charged under the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Act for racially abusing a man in Kildare town brought a raised eyebrow to the judge when the charge was read to the court.

“1989? I would have thought hatred legislation was a lot more recent,” said Judge Desmond Zaidan when the charge was officially read to Naas District Court recently.

The defendant Charlie Kearney (22) has an address on Connagh Road in the town, and also faced charges of obstruction, unauthorised taking of a vehicle, and assault.

“What did he say, sergeant?” the judge asked.

'F*ck off back to your country'

“He called the injured party a ‘black c*nt’ and told him to ‘f*ck off back to your country’. He then assaulted the man,” said Sgt Ruth Coleman of the main allegations on Market Square and Claregate Street on 15 July 2023.

Coincidentally, both allegations occurred on the defendant’s birthday.

“Judge, my client is not in court, but I believe he is in a psychiatric unit,” said defending solicitor Tim Kennelly, although he said he had no proof of this in court.

Accepting Mr Kennelly’s bona fides, the judge gave him one week go get a corroborating certificate and put the case back to second calling to allow the solicitor obtain some clarification.

However, when the case was recalled, it was revealed that Mr Kearney had only “requested medical treatment” and not entered into it. 

Judge Zaidan then opted to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

Mr Kearney is also facing a charge of obstruction after allegedly throwing a bag of cannabis onto the tracks at Kildare Town Railway Station on 12 July 2023, and the alleged theft of a car from the Fairgreen in Kildare town on 10 August 2024.