Man charged with murder of woman in Ennis

A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a woman in Ennis.
Patrick Ballard, with an address at Ashford Court, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court today (March 24).
He is charged with the murder of mother of two, Sharon Bennett (29).
Ballard was previously charged with assault causing harm to Ms Bennett in the Market area of Ennis on January 28. That charge was today withdrawn and struck out.
The accused was remanded in custody to appear at Gort district court tomorrow.
The issue of bail was not raised in court as the district court does not have jurisdiction to deal with a bail application on a murder charge.
Sharon Bennett, a native of Wexford, died at University Hospital Limerick on February 10, thirteen days after she was admitted.
In court today, detective Garda Noelle Bergin of Ennis Garda Station said she arrested Ballard for the purpose of charge at Ennis Courthouse at 10.29am
At 10.30am, the court heard, Det Bergin charged the accused.
Det Bergin told the court that Ballard made no reply to the charge after caution.
Judge Patrick Durcan granted an application from solicitor Tara Godfrey for legal aid.
Ms Godrey said she was making an additional application to have the court direct that her client be psychiatrically assessed while in custody.
Judge Durcan made an order directing the accused be psychiatrically assessed.
The judge said he was additionally ordering Ms Godfrey to write to the Governor of Limerick Prison raising the issue of assessment.
Judge Durcan also granted Ms Godfrey liberty to appeal the order should any issue arise.
Ms Godfrey further asked the court to direct that the wpsychiatric report be released to her when completed.
The solicitor explained that such a report would not normally be released and a direction from the court is required. Judge Durcan granted the application.
Following his arrest in January, Patrick Ballard was initially charged with assault causing harm to Ms Bennett at Gurranakilla, the Market, Ennis on January 28, 2021, contrary to section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan told the court the section 3 assault charge was being withdrawn by the State.
Judge Durcan noted the State’s application and struck out the assault charge.
Ballard has been on remand in custody since being refused bail in January on the assault charge.
Of the new charge, Judge Durcan said, “This is a charge of murder so the question of bail does not arise”.
Sgt Lonergan said there may be a difficulty in remanding the accused as the district court is not sitting in Clare next week.
Judge Durcan said he would remand Ballard in custody to appear in person at Gort district court tomorrow, March 25.
The judge said he would sit early in order to facilitate the hearing of the case.