A HUSBAND threw used and dirty cat litter on top of his wife during the course of an alleged assault at their Co Clare home on Wednesday evening, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court on Friday, the 36-year old man appeared in court charged with the assault causing harm of his wife and using a bicycle wheel as a weapon during the course of a dispute on Wednesday evening.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan told the court that Gardai were strongly objecting to bail for the accused due to the seriousness of the alleged offences which he said on conviction on indictment in the circuit court carry penalties of up to five years in jail.
Judge Mary Larkin remanded the man in custody with consent to bail and the bail conditions include that the accused stay out of County Clare.
An address outside Clare was provided for the accused to stay at while on bail and Judge Larkin ordered that the man can only take up bail after an independent surety of €3,000 is approved by the court.
Judge Larkin also ordered that the man make no direct or indirect contact with his wife, through social media or otherwise, while on bail.
Earlier opposing bail, Garda Megan Haugh told the court that the wife in the case “alleged that her husband assaulted her, beating her with his fists, hitting her with the wheel of a bicycle and had ‘bumped’ her with the car as she was on the road”.
Garda Haugh said that the woman made a detailed statement where she made allegations against her husband of assault, threat to kill and endangerment.
Recounting the events involving the couple on Thursday when opposing the man’s bail application, Garda Haugh said that the wife arrived at a neighbour’s house at 9pm in a distressed state.
Garda Haugh said that the woman said that earlier that day, her husband drank a bottle of gin and had passed out on the couch. The court also heard that the man has a drug addiction.
Garda Haugh said that it will be alleged that when the man woke up he wanted more alcohol.
She said that there was back and forth between the pair and the woman drove her husband to a nearby shop for alcohol.
Garda Haugh said that it will be alleged that on the way home the husband got verbally abusive in the car towards his wife as she was driving.
Garda Haugh said, “It is alleged that as she stopped the car, the man punched her several times and put his hands around her neck and put her out of the car”.
The garda said that it will be alleged that as the husband was driving the car away, it ‘bumped’ her with it as he drove off.
The woman returned to their home and recounted that as she was in the utility room, her husband appeared and struck her again with his fists, struck her on the back of her head and shoulders with a bicycle wheel and threw used, dirty cat litter on top of her.
Garda Haugh said that the woman also alleges that her husband grabbed a wine or gin bottle and threatened to smash her face in and she managed to get away to get to her neighbours for help.
Sgt Lonergan said that the husband – represented by solicitor, John Casey – was arrested and brought to his local Garda station for questioning. The man was brought in custody from the station to court today.
Sgt Lonergan said that the accused has no previous convictions for assault and there were no Domestic Violence orders in place.
Garda Haugh said that the alleged injured party was not available to give evidence at the bail hearing and has received medical attention. Photos were also taken of the woman’s alleged injuries.
Garda Haugh said that Gardai would not be happy with any bail conditions. Garda Haugh said that the likelihood of interference with witnesses was quite high as the accused is married to the alleged injured party and they live together.
Judge Larkin remanded the accused in custody with consent to bail to appear before Ennis District court next Wednesday, May 3rd.
