Man assaulted ex-partner and threatened to burn down family home, Mayo court told
A MAN who appeared before Castlebar District Court on charges of assault causing harm and criminal damage has been refused bail by Judge Michael Connellan.
The defendant, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions imposed by the court, was living in the same house as his former partner when gardaí in Mayo were called to a disturbance at the home at 11.45 on the night of June 29 last.
The defendant was arrested and held in custody until he was brought before the court the following day.
He was remanded in custody from that court to appear before Castlebar District Court on July 7 when he sought bail.
The defendant had no solicitor to appear on his behalf due to the withdrawal of the free legal aid services as a result of an ongoing national dispute with the Department of Justice.
The State strenuously objected to granting bail on several counts, including the seriousness of the alleged offences and the threat the defendant still posed to his former partner, who told the court that she was in fear for her safety as she believed her ex-partner would return to the house and threaten her.
Garda Darragh McHugh said he and other members of An Garda Síochána were called to a disturbance at the house on the night of June 29.
Garda McHugh said it was alleged by the defendant’s former partner that the defendant came into her bedroom and grabbed her mobile phone after accusing her of being unfaithful.
It is alleged he hit her in the chest and screamed at her and her daughter, who was present at the time.
The court heard that some of the incidents were recorded by the victim’s teenage daughter.
Judge Connellan was informed that it is also alleged he screamed at his teenage daughter and smashed the mobile phone.
It was further alleged that the defendant was screaming and shouting at his ex-partner and their daughter while he threatened to burn the family home and went outside and brought in a can which contained petrol and started to pour it all over the sitting room, while he also poured some of the liquid over his ex-partner.
The court was also informed that it is alleged he struck his ex-partner four or five times and threw her on the ground before grabbing her around the neck.
Evidence was heard from gardaí that when they arrived at the scene, they noticed bruising and spattering of blood on the defendant's ex-partner.
The defendant was verbally abusive towards the gardaí and in a highly intoxicated state.
Evidence was given by the defendant's ex-partner who said she feared for her safety, and she had no doubt he would return to the house to hurt her if he was granted bail.
She said her ex-partner had been constantly drinking and, although he gave it up for a short period, he went back drinking again.
“Things have got out of hand due to his constant drinking.
“We can’t live like this anymore,” she told the judge.
The defendant told the judge that he was extremely remorseful for what he had done and apologised to his ex-partner.
“I never intended to hurt anyone and I want to apologise to anyone I did hurt with all my heart,” said the defendant, who handed in a statement of apology and by way of an explanation for his conduct towards his ex-partner which he had written while in prison which he asked to be passed on her.
Judge Connellan said that given the seriousness of the allegations against the defendant and the concerns raised in court, he was remanding him in custody to the next court in Castlebar on July 15 when he could make another application for bail.
* Funded under the Courts Reporting Scheme.