Man accused of assaulting 74-year-old unable to take up bail

A man alleged to have carried out an unprovoked attack on his 74-year-old neighbour in Barefield earlier this month has been unable to take up bail, a court has heard.

Ciaran Cullinan (32), with an address at Curraderra, Barefield, appeared at Ennis district court this Wednesday, via video link from Limerick Prison.

Cullinan is charged with assault causing harm to Noel Meere at Curraderra, Barefield on September 3. He is further charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for the purposes of sale or supply.

Those charges arise from a garda search of Cullinan’s address in Curraderra, Barefield, also on September 3.

Cullinan was granted bail at Ennis district court earlier this month subject to a number of conditions.

At the time, Judge Patricia Cronin granted Cullinan bail on his own bond of €500 with €250 to be lodged in court. The court is also seeking an independent surety of €2000, with €1000 to be lodged in court. The surety is to be approved by the court.

Judge Cronin also ordered that the accused reside at an address outside Clare. The accused must also stay out of Clare expect for court appearances.

The judge also directed that Cullinan not have contact, direct or indirect, with the alleged victim and his family.

In court this Wednesday, Sergeant Aiden Lonergan said the garda file in the matter is still being prepared for the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

Sergeant Lonergan told the court the accused had been remanded in custody with consent to bail but had been so far been unable to take it up.

Defence solicitor, John Casey said, “He is in custody. It is unlikely he will be able to take up bail as set by the district court.”

Mr Casey asked that progress be made on the case by the next court date .

Judge Mary Larkin noted that the accused is in custody and asked that the case be expedited before the next court date. Judge Larkin remanded Ciaran Cullinan in custody with consent to bail to appear again in court on October 19.

At a court sitting earlier this month, gardaí opposed Cullinan’s bail application.

Outlining the circumstances of the alleged assault, Garda Conor Langan said gardaí responded to a report of an alleged assault on a 74-year-old man in Barefield on the afternoon on September 3.

The court heard that Noel Meere was checking his sheds when he met Ciaran Cullinan, who lives adjacent to Mr Meere’s property.

Garda Langan said it will be alleged that in an unprovoked attack, Cullinan struck Mr Meere a number of times in the face and throat and said, “I’m going to kill you, you f***ing c***”.

Garda Langan said gardaí believe Cullinan used a sharp implement to inflict the wounds on Mr Meere. The court heard that Cullinan was arrested at the scene and gardaí obtained a warrant to search his address.

Garda Langan said it will be alleged that gardai found a “significant quantity of cannabis” with an initial estimated value of €36,000.

The garda said he opposed the granting of bail and told the court that no conditions set down by the court would allay his concerns.

Garda Langan said, “This was a traumatic incident for an elderly gentleman who was minding his own business, checking his sheds.”