Josip Štrok: Two teenagers charged with murder of Croatian man in Clondalkin

Anthony Delappe L and Connor Rafferty R appeared in court this morning

TWO CLONDALKIN TEENAGERS have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a Croatian man who died following an incident in west Dublin last month.

Carpenter Josip Štrok, 31, who lived in central Dublin, suffered severe head injuries at Grange View Way, Clondalkin, on 30 March.

His friend David Družinec, 28, was allegedly attacked during the same incident.

Štrok died from his injuries four days later, on 3 April, in Tallaght Hospital.

Gardaí attached to the Clondalkin District and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) carried out arrests yesterday and charged two local men.

Connor Rafferty, 19, of Castlegrange Close, Clondalkin, and Anthony Delappe, 18, of Melrose Avenue, Clondalkin, were both charged at Ballyfermot Garda station with the murder of Štrok and assault causing harm to his friend on 30 March.

This morning, they appeared separately before Judge Máire Conneely at Blanchardstown District Court.

Josip atrok

Giving evidence, Garda Patrick Fallon told the court that Connor Rafferty was charged just after 10pm yesterday. He was cautioned and “made no reply”.

The District Court does not have jurisdiction to consider bail in murder cases, which require applications in the High Court.

Rafferty’s solicitor, Luke Staines, said his client intended to apply for bail on the assault charge at his next appearance.

Rafferty dressed in a black and grey tracksuit and runners, sat silently throughout the brief hearing.

Judge Conneely remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 2 May.

Garda Barry O’Shea gave evidence in the case of the co-accused. Delappe “had no reply” when he was charged, the court heard.

His solicitor, Valerie Buckley, also said her client would move a bail application on the assault charge when his case resumes at Cloverhill District Court on 2 May.

They have yet to indicate how they will plead.

The gardaí were granted a minor amendment directed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), changing the date of the murder offence from 30 March to 3 April.

The judge granted legal aid to the pair.

A third man arrested during the investigation was released without charge today, pending directions from the DPP.