Judge refuses to vary bail conditions of Laois man facing extra charges including coercive control
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A MAN before the court for allegedly assaulting his former partner has been given two more charges after an in camera hearing at Portlaoise District Court last week.
The new charges relate to the theft of a phone and coercive control at his ex partner’s home in Laois on 11 August last year.
The 43 year old cannot be named to protect the alleged victim’s identity.
At an earlier court sitting, he was granted bail with strict conditions. These included staying away from all pubs, nightclubs, off licences and alcohol sections in shops anywhere in Ireland; remaining sober and avoiding all alcohol and drugs; remain indoors between 10pm and 5am; answer the door to gardaí at any time; sign on daily at a garda station between 9am and 9pm; keep a contactable phone and answer calls from gardaí 24/7; meet gardaí within 15 minutes if asked; have no contact with the alleged victim; surrender his passport and not apply for a new one; stay out of Laois, except for court, medical, or probation appointments; and inform gardaí of any change of address.
At the previous hearing, the woman told the court that she had known the man for several years and they had been in a relationship.
She said they went out drinking in Portlaoise on the night of the alleged incident and she noticed he was becoming agitated. She went home alone, ate something and fell asleep on the couch. She said she woke when he knocked on the door. After she let him in, he accused her of deliberately scratching his car. She said he kept asking whether she thought the situation was funny, which she denied.
She went to bed, but he followed her, lay beside her and continued accusing her. She told the court he suddenly “pounced” on her, allegedly grabbed her by the neck and allegedly repeatedly struck her on the side of the head.
She also alleged that he took her phone, told her to get dressed and ordered her to follow him to his house. She drove behind him because she was too afraid not to.
At his house, she said that he returned her phone and asked if she had enough diesel to get back home. She then went back to her own house.
At the bail hearing, she said she felt “terrified … petrified,” adding that because she lives alone in the countryside, she now struggles to sleep and fears it will happen again.
When the case resumed last week, garda Stephen Lynott told Judge Stephanie Coogans that the man made no reply when the two new charges were put to him.
He said he was agreeing to the extension of bail and confirmed that the director of public prosecutions has directed the case be sent forward for trial on indictment.
The man’s barrister, Andrew Dunne, asked the judge to change one bail condition. He requested permission for the man to stay at his parents’ home in Laois on weekends for a short period of time until he finds a new address in Tipperary. He said the man had been injured after a fall from scaffolding while training as a crane driver on a site.
Garda sgt JJ Kirby opposed the change, noting that the man’s parents live only ten minutes from the alleged victim.
Judge Stephanie Coogans refused the request to vary the bail conditions and remanded the accused on continuing bail to 23 March.
