Limerick woman accused of 'faking' lie detector test amid ex's claims she slept with someone else

A MAN who accused his former partner of sleeping with another man and ultimately faking the results of a lie detector test has been granted bail pending an appeal against his conviction.

At Limerick District Court, Judge Patricia Harney heard the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had breached a safety order on five occasions within the last year-and-a-half.

All of the offences happened at addresses in Limerick but further details cannot be reported.

Taking to the stand, his former partner outlined details of the breaches, which included the accused, the father of her children, grabbing her by the throat, calling her names and barricading himself in her home, among others.

The relationship was on and off for a long period of time before eventually ending a number of years ago. It was the woman’s view that it was “never stable” and she sought a safety order the same year they broke up as he kept coming to her home.

Giving evidence, the woman disclosed to Judge Harney that following one particular incident, she took a lie detector test as he had consistently accused her of sleeping with another man who was known to them.

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Despite passing the test, she said this was “not good enough” for her former partner, who believed the result was false and then became “very aggressive.”

On another occasion just months later, she claimed that she was sitting in her vehicle, with a window slightly rolled down, when the father of her children approached and tried to pull the window down further while asking: “Why won’t you get back (together) with me?”

The woman said it is her belief that her ex-partner “wants to be my boss,” is “dangerous” and “won’t take no for an answer."

During the proceedings, it was disclosed the man obtained a court order against the complainant in this case but that this was overturned after an appeal was lodged.

The man’s solicitor told Judge Harney that things seemed to calm while this order was in place and that he just wishes to see his children. However, the woman said: “I wouldn’t let him mind a dog let alone a child.” She went on to claim that he is taking drugs.

Giving his account, the defendant disclosed that he has a disability which can affect his memory. He said he could either not remember most of these breaches or else they were “lies” his ex-partner had made up.

Upon hearing from both parties, Judge Patricia Harney said she was satisfied to accept the woman’s account as it was corroborated by gardaí, who had arrested the man a number of times at her home.

Limerick District Court was informed that he has several previous convictions, including 11 for breaching this safety order.

Having convicted the man in relation to the five breaches, Judge Harney sentenced him to six weeks’ imprisonment for each charge, with the sentences to run consecutively to one another.

However, this was appealed immediately by the man’s solicitor and as a result, he was granted bail on an own bond of €100 as long as he abides by the terms of the safety order and engages in sober habits.

The appeal is expected to come before the circuit court later this year.