This article is from page 13 of the 2009-11-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
A COURT has heard an allegation that a young man called to a neigh- bour’s house in Kilrush looking for a ‘top-up’ of money, telling the man ‘You don’t need me as an enemy.”
Arising out of this, Martin Blunnie (21), of Beech Park, John Paul Estate, Kilrush, was charged with assaulting John Naughton, on April 17, 2009.
John Thomas Naughton told Kil- rush District Court last Wednesday week that he was at home at Beech Park, on April 17 last. He said there was a knock on the door at 8.20pm and his wife answered it.
He said that Martin Blunnie was at the door and was looking for a loan of €20. “I told him I had no money to give him. He said he wanted a top- up. He had €50. He said, ‘You don’t need me as an enemy. I’m a big man’ and kicked me to the leg. My knee was bleeding,’ Mr Naughton told the court.
The case was adjourned on that date for a week after Mr Naughton told the court he did not have his read- ing glasses with him. Judge Joseph Mangan told him to return, with his
glasses, last Wednesday, so that he could read a statement.
However, on the adjourned date, Superintendent Michael Comyns said Mr Naughton wished to with- draw his statement.
Solicitor Joe Chambers, on behalf of Mr Naughton, said, “I’m satisfied
his attitude to this is solely related to the fact the defendant’s mother is in hospital.”
The case was then struck out by Judge Joseph Mangan.