People dining in a popular Dublin bar were put in “absolute fear” when a chartered accountant began pacing around with an imitation handgun tucked into the waistband, a court heard.
Alan Hall (44), of Bridgewater Quay, Conyngham Road, Dublin 8, was charged with a Firearms Act offence for unlawful possession of an imitation gun at the Grattan Bar in Inchicore on Saturday.
Mr Hall, a former finance director for a prominent PR firm, faced bail objections when he appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on Monday.
Garda Leanne Butler cited the seriousness of the case and possible witness interference as grounds to object to his bail. She alleged that the accused was seen with what appeared to be a firearm in the waistband as he was “pacing” up and down in the bar before he took it out and put it into his coat pocket.
Following arrest, he told gardaí it was a toy gun.
Questioned by defence solicitor Colleen Gildernew, the garda agreed he also had a box of toy soldiers and claimed to have bought them in an unnamed shop in the city centre. Enquiries about the shop were ongoing.
The garda accepted that the accused had a meal and went to pay when the imitation gun was spotted. She alleged that it happened during peak hours in the bar where several witnesses, including families, could see the weapon and “were in absolute fear for their safety at the time”.
She accepted that it was not the case that he had been waving or pointing the fake gun, and she added that he did not threaten anyone.
The garda said Mr Hall took photographs of the bar after being asked to leave.
Ahead of the court hearing, he was questioned at Kevin Street Garda station, where a doctor found he was fit to be interviewed.
The defence solicitor said her client had no prior convictions, had an avid interest in second World War memorabilia, and had co-operated in the bar.
She submitted that he had given an account to gardaí and that any concerns about her client would not be helped by a remand in custody.
At the bail hearing, a staff member gave evidence that people in the bar were frightened.
Judge Kelly described it as “very scary” but said she held that he could be granted conditional bail once he lodged €500 and had a €1,000 independent surety approved. He must stay away from the bar and remain contactable by phone.
Mr Hall, who has yet to enter a plea, was remanded in custody with consent to bail on those terms and will appear again on Wednesday.
Legal aid was granted after the judge noted he was unemployed and getting social welfare.
