Waterways Ireland has been sent forward for trial after a homeless man was paralysed when a digger cleared his tent from the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin.

Elias Adane suffered the life-changing injuries in the incident on January 14th, 2020.

It happened along a portion of the Grand Canal where other homeless people had pitched tents and had been served with eviction notices.

Mr Adane, who is in his 30s and originally from Eritrea, came to Ireland as an unaccompanied minor and has spent lengthy periods of time in homelessness.

He had been sleeping in a tent at Wilton Terrace near Leeson Street Bridge for months before the incident.

After he was injured, he spent weeks at St Vincent's Hospital before he was moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital while new accommodation was arranged.

Following a Health and Safety Authority report, a file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The DPP has now authorised charges against Waterways Ireland and one of its employees Jennifer Blackford of Oldcourt Lawn, Firhouse in Dublin 24.

The offences include allegations of failure to check if Mr Adane's tent was empty when it was removed "by means of a mechanical grab".

The judge has sent the case forward for trial at the Circuit Criminal Court.

There's been no indication of how Waterways Ireland or Jennifer Blackford may plead and the case has been listed for mention on October 11th.

Main image shows the scene on Dublin’s Grand Canal where Elias Adane was injured in January 2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

Reporting from Tom Tuite at the Dublin District Court.