This article is from page 10 of the 2006-09-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
A FRENCH national has appeared in court, charged in connection with an alleged stabbing in Ennis on St Stephen’s night.
Toufike Lenaabdi (26), of 17 Glennoul, Tivoli, Cork, is charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Patrick O’Neill (24), contrary to Section Four of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
The alleged incident occurred at an apartment in Millstream Court during a party on December 27 last. The alleged victim is from west Clare.
A number of people who were attending the Christmas party were interviewed by gardaí, who investigated the alleged incident.
Giving evidence before Ennis District Court last Friday morning, Sergeant Frank Naughton said he arrested the accused in Tivoli, Cork, at 6.15pm the previous evening.
He brought him to Ennis Garda Station, where he charged the accused with the alleged offence.
In reply to the charge, the accused said, “I did it, but not intentionally or recklessly.”
Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the charge was a “serious” one and that the DPP directed that a Book of Evidence be prepared.
He said he would agree to bail being granted, on €1,000 (own), €1,000 (independent) sureties and a cash lodgement of €500.
Defending solicitor Siobhán McMahon said her client lived with his partner in Tivoli and was a head pastry chef in a Cork hotel, where he had worked for the past six or seven months and earned €450 a week.
“He has €500 cash. He can get an independent surety for €500, as opposed to €1,000,” said the solicitor. Judge Joseph Mangan accepted this.
He imposed a number of bail conditions, including that he sign on at Mayfield Garda Station twice a week; that he stay away from the alleged injured party and that he notify gardaí if he changed address.
The accused will appear in court again next month.