Anna Nolan mugging: Man bailed

A 21-year-old man accused of mugging Afternoon Show presenter Anna Nolan in Dublin was tonight granted bail despite garda objections.

Dainus Grazulis, a Lithuanian national, was arrested in connection with the robbery.

Nolan was attacked from behind while walking down Long Lane off Clanbrassil Street in Dublin in the early hours of last Saturday.

At Dublin District Court garda Stephen Walsh said he arrested Mr Grazulis at 7.10pm in St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

The Lithuanian had been taken there for treatment after being apprehended by a member of the public.

He was taken to Kevin Street garda station and charged with robbing Ms Nolan under the Test and Fraud Act.

The court heard that Grazulis was a third year degree student in Lithuania, who had arrived in Ireland around two months ago to join his sister.

His lawyer, who did not wish to give his name, said his client had never been in any difficulty before and had an underlying fear that any conviction would prevent him from working throughout Europe.

“His problem is that he has absolutely no recollection of the event but obviously he wants to see it through,” he said.

Judge James Scally expressed concern given the police objection to the granting of bail and the fact that Mr Grazulis had no ties to Ireland.

However he granted bail on condition that Mr Grazulis resided with his sister, Asta Glasinene, who is married and has been working here for two and a half years, at her house in St Brickins Park, Dublin 7.

He also ordered him to surrender his passport, sign on daily at a police station, undertake not to apply for any new travel documents and to comply with the bail bond of €400 with half of this in cash.

Grazulis stood in court dressed in black trousers and a navy top with his hands clasped behind his back. He is due to appear at Dublin District Court again on Friday August 26.

An RTE spokeswoman said that Ms Nolan was okay but had been shocked and shaken by the attack.