Man accused of assaulting wife denied bail in Clare court

A MAN accused of repeatedly hitting his wife and dragging her across the kitchen floor during an alleged assault in Clare has been refused bail, writes Ronan Judge.

The alleged incident occurred at the couple’s home address in Clare on Tuesday. A 38-year-old-man was brought before an in-camera sitting of Ennis District Court this week charged with assault causing harm to his wife. He is also charged with possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Both charges arise from an alleged incident at a house in Clare on Tuesday, February 15.

A local garda gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. The court heard that in reply to one of the charges, the accused man said, “It’s everything, correct”.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey was assigned legal aid to represent the accused and she said her client was applying for bail.

The application was opposed by the State. The garda said bail was opposed on a number of grounds including the seriousness of the charge and the likely sentence upon conviction.

The garda told the court that he and a colleague responded to a report of an alleged assault at the couple’s home on Tuesday. The garda said they met the alleged victim and observed “extensive bruising to one side of her face”.

The garda agreed with Sergeant Aiden Lonergan that the woman gave a statement to gardaí that her husband allegedly assaulted her in the house by “hitting her repeatedly and dragging her across the kitchen floor”.

The court heard a potential witness used a phone to record the alleged assault.

The garda said he had concerns that the accused, who has lived in Ireland for two years, would interfere with witnesses and is a possible flight risk. He said gardaí were also concerned that the man now has nowhere to live.

An interpreter explained proceedings to the accused man.

Ms Godfrey said her client had previously lived at the family home with his wife and baby. Ms Godfrey said her client is willing to surrender his passport, find alternative accommodation and abide by any other bail conditions set down by the court.

Judge Mary Larkin said the issue of potential intimidation was an issue in granting bail.

“She is an extremely vulnerable person and has a young child and I don’t know how he is going to get over the question of intimidation”, she said.

Judge Larkin said the court had to consider the issue of intimidation in view of “the relationship between the parties and in view that the woman is a vulnerable person with a very young baby”.

She said concerns had also been raised that the accused is a flight risk.

The judge said the court believed in the granting of bail but having regard to all the issues raised, she was satisfied to refuse bail in this case.

Judge Larkin said it is open to the accused to apply to the high court for bail. The man was remanded in custody to appear again in court on February 23, 2022.