Man accused of scalding cellmate with boiling water in Cloverhill Prison

Tom Tuite

A former waiter previously "targeted" after posting a social media threat has been charged with using a kettle of boiling water to scald a cellmate who suffered severe burns in a Cloverhill Prison attack.

Romanian national, Beniamin Petre, 50, of no fixed address, appeared before Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court on Sunday and was released on conditional bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Garda Rebecca Lloyd charged him with assault causing harm to another man on June 10th in the prison and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury during the same alleged incident.

Objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the case and flight risk concerns, she told the court that it was the prosecution's case that Mr Petri assaulted the man in a cell within the confines of Cloverhill Prison and was caught red-handed.

The injured man had shared a cell with the accused for approximately two weeks.

It was alleged Mr Petre used a kettle of boiling water to assault the other prisoner and that he struck him on the head with the kettle and "he sustained considerable burns to his head and arm".

The injured man required hospital treatment following the attack, which was said to have been witnessed by a prison officer who claimed he saw Mr Petre hitting the man "three times into the head using a kettle".

The bail hearing was told another prison guard "witnessed Mr Petre holding a kettle and threatened prison staff that if they entered the cell, 'they would get it'."

Defence counsel, Paddy Flynn, asserted that while his client made admissions, these were made in the context of explaining his actions in self-defence. Additionally, a comment made by Mr Petre to the garda about leaving the State indicated his wish to do so if he had no pending court proceedings. The barrister described the remark as a miscommunication.

The assault and weapons charges, on conviction in the Circuit Court, are punishable by sentences of up to 10 years and five years respectively.

The court heard that the accused, who did not require a translator and spoke only to consult with his barrister, had been in Ireland since 1999, and had worked as a waiter in a Dublin 4 hotel.

However, he lost his job in 2021 and had been homeless at times, living in a tent. Counsel said his client had the presumption of innocence and intended to remain in the State. Counsel told the court there had been some social media attention and the accused had been "targeted" earlier and his property stolen.

The garda said she was aware of a video he had placed online, making threats.

Mr Flynn asked the judge to fix bail with a range of conditions and proposed granting a short adjournment to allow Mr Petre to prove he could comply with the court's orders.

Judge White rejected the grounds for the Garda bail objections and set Mr Petre's bond at €200. He was released and ordered to provide gardaí with a new mobile phone number within 48 hours, remain contactable, sign on five days a week at Store Street Garda station, and provide his address or the name of a hostel.

The case resumes in September. Legal aid was granted to the accused, who receives social welfare.