Laois woman claims former partner tried to strangle her
Portlaoise District Court
A WOMAN told gardaí that her former partner had allegedly tried to strangle and punch her when they responded to an emergency call-out to a domestic dispute.
That was part of the evidence given at Portlaoise District Court last week, when the man, who cannot be identified, was before it charged with assault causing harm.
During the bail hearing the court was told that on 23 January gardaí were called out to a domestic disturbance. When they arrived at the scene the woman claimed that her former partner “had tried to strangle her and punched her with his clenched fist.” The court heard the woman, “had visible marks on her neck and arms,” refused medical assistance, but had attended her doctor the following day.
The man’s solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that his 39-year-old client “admits putting his hands on the injured party,” but not to punching his ex-partner of 18 months, “and does not have a history of violence.” Judge Susan Fay said: “Any man that puts his hands on a woman’s neck I take that very seriously,” and went on to grant bail to the defendant with conditions.
He must have no contact by any means whatsoever with the injured party, he must stay a five-mile radius away from where the alleged injured party resides, he must sign on at the local garda station twice a week, be of sober habits and of good behaviour. He must stay out of a certain town, as well as providing a mobile phone number to gardaí and be available to meet with them within a 15-minute period following their call.
She remanded the defendant on his own bail of €100 and adjourned the case to 15 December to allow time for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide which way the case will be prosecuted - at local District Court or in the Circuit Criminal Court.
