Man ‘tried to strangle’ his former partner during incident in Limerick town
A MAN who “tried to strangle” his former partner had a bail application refused at Newcastle West Court in Limerick.
The man, who is from mainland Europe, is alleged to have breached a safety order.
The defendant cannot be named to protect the identity of his former partner. His solicitor Ted McCarthy made a bail application on behalf of his client which was opposed by Inspector Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting.
The investigating garda said the man gained entry into the house where the injured party was living with her two children.
“He tried to strangle her in an upstairs bedroom,” said the garda. After she got him out of the house the man kicked the front door and front window, the court heard.
“We do believe if he is released from bail he will return to the residence and attack or assault the injured party,” said the garda, who added that the man entered the country last August and was on bail for criminal damage.
Mr McCarthy said under the terms of the safety order his client was to have no contact with his former partner but was allowed to return to the property to remove personal items with a garda present.
“He went to the garda station three times asking for a garda to come with him. They said there were none available. He indicated to gardai he was going himself. He knocked on the door and one of the children opened it. He was informed none of his belongings were left in the house. He was not aware of that. Afterwards he presented himself again to gardai,” said Mr McCarthy.
The injured party took the witness box. Answering questions from Insp Thompson, she said she is “afraid he will come back”.
“I am afraid to leave the children out to play. We are going to have to leave the house. I don’t feel safe,” she said.
The woman said she had brought the defendant upstairs to show him “there was nothing there belonging to him”.
The accused took the stand and said he “just wanted my suitcase and some clothes and a picture of my nieces which is very important to me” and “not to hurt her or scare her or her kids”.
He said if there is damage he will pay for it.
Mr McCarthy said his client is satisfied there is nothing left in the house and if granted bail will obey all conditions.
Insp Thompson objected to bail, saying it was a “serious matter”. He said the accused may have had to wait some time but “we have other things to be doing as well” and he “knowingly went to the house” in breach of the safety order.
In refusing the bail application, Judge Carol Anne Coolican said these are serious offences and the defendant said he wanted to return to his home country. The defendant was remanded in custody to appear via video-link in the city.