A MAN accused of carrying out a Valentine’s Day knife attack in Limerick has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court.
Moudar Friha is accused of stabbing another man eight times during the alleged attack on February 14, 2025.
Mr Friha (23), who is before the courts with an address at Fuchisa Avenue, Caherdavin, Limerick, is currently being held on remand at Limerick Prison.
The Syrian native is charged with one count of assault causing harm and possession of a knife at the time of the alleged assault at Caherdavin Park.
The alleged victim, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions imposed by a judge, sustained stab wounds to his stomach, side and his arm and thigh in the alleged attack.
It was alleged at an earlier court sitting in February that the accused called to the alleged victim’s home on Valentine’s Day and asked for him for a cigarette and to go for a walk.
At Caherdavin Park, the court heard, Mr Friha began acting strange, asking weird questions of the man, speaking in Arabaic and staring.
When the alleged victim began walking away from Mr Friha, the accused followed him.
Gardaí alleged Mr Friha “tackled” the man and “stabbed him once in the stomach, twice in the arm, once in his side, and three times in the thigh”.
The court previously heard that Gardaí visited the accused’s house four hours prior to the alleged stabbing, after a family member had contacted services about the accused’s mental health, at which point Gardaí spoke to Mr Friha at his home and he appeared to be placid.
Bail in the February court sitting was objected to by Gardaí on grounds of the “nature and strength” of alleged evidence against the accused, which included blood-stained clothing and a knife.
At Limerick District Court this past week, a Garda served the State’s completed book of evidence on Mr Friha, who appeared via video-link.
Sergeant Denis Waters, Roxboro Road Garda Station, told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had “consented to a trial on indictment at the present sittings of Limerick Circuit Court”.
Judge Carol Anne Coolican gave Mr Friha the “alibi warning” explaining to him he had 14 days to inform the DPP of any alibi evidence or witnesses he may wish to rely on at his trial.
Mr Friha’s solicitor, Sarah Ryan, told the court she was not seeking bail for her client.
Ms Ryan successfully applied to the court to be assigned, along with a barrister, to represent Mr Friha at his trial.
Judge Coolican remanded Mr Friha in continuing custody for a plea or a date for trial before the present sittings of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Previously, investigating Garda Detective Garda Ronan Humphreys told the District Court that Mr Friha “made no reply” when charged with the offences.
