Letterkenny Courthouse.
A DISTRICT judge has remanded a Culdaff man in custody after he was arrested on assault charges alleged to have been committed while on bail.
Barry Doherty of Dunross appeared before this morning’s sitting of Letterkenny District court after being arrested at his home yesterday, Tuesday at 1pm.
The defendant is charged with assault causing harm and assault, relating to an incident alleged to have occurred on June 20. Sergeant Paul Forrestal told the court Doherty made no reply to the charges.
Applying to have the defendant remanded in custody to Castlerea, Sergeant Forrestal said five previous bench warrants had been issued for the defendant in 2010 and 2011.
The sergeant told the court that the defendant was also due to appear before the circuit court in the coming weeks on charges of a ‘very similar nature’, including assault causing harm, production of an article during the course of a dispute and criminal damage.
Sergeant Forrestal said the new charges were ‘very serious’ and injuries sustained by the alleged victim could have been ‘life-threatening’.
Judge Paul Kelly heard that that gardai had ‘considerable evidence’ in support of the charges, including an independent witness. He said further charges may follow.
The sergeant added that gardai believed there was a considerable flight risk referring to a Facebook post the defendant had posted online yesterday.
Applying for bail, the defendant’s solicitor, Mr Ray Lannon said Doherty had attended every court sitting in relation to the circuit court matters since 2011.
He told the court that his client was unemployed, not on social welfare and living at home with his parents. “He had been getting on with his life and had no intention of getting involved in any situation like this”
Judge Kelly refused bail based on the evidence by the Gardai and demanded the defendant to appear at Letterkenny District Court on Monday next by video link from Castlerea prison.
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