This article is from page 6 of the 2006-04-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A YOUNG man has been charged with assaulting a woman in the accountant’s office where she worked.
Patrick Hall (20), of 8 Beech Park, Kilrush, is charged with assaulting Bernadette Adams and with burglary, at Francis Street, Kilrush, last Thursday, April 6.
Detective Garda Michael McDonagh said he arrested the accused at lunchtime on Friday. After charges, the accused replied, “I did not do it.”
Ms Adams said she was working upstairs at Leahy’s accountants, last Thursday.
She went to the toilet and while there, heard footsteps.
She was then confronted by two youths. She said they tried to push her forward and she ended up at the bottom of the stairs. She was taken to hospital for treatment and was discharged later that night.
“I am in great pain. I have never been confronted like this before and I find it very distressing,” she said.
Defending solicitor, William Cahir applied for bail, saying his client was willing to surrender his passport. Inspector Tom Kennedy said he was opposing that application, based on the “seriousness of the charges and the weight of the evidence against the defendant.” He said there would be a fear of intimidation and a fear the witness would abscond. The solicitor said, however, that there was no basis for the fears of intimidation.
Det Gda McDonagh said he was aware that the accused purchased sterling in the last few days and planned to visit his mother in the UK. Det Sergeant Dave Sheedy told Judge Mangan that he could not understand why so many members of the defendant’s family were in court.
“It is obviously distressing and intimidating for the witness,” he said.
The judge said he was refusing bail, based on the seriousness of the charges, the weight of evidence against the accused and the fears that he may abscond.
“I have to confess I have an open mind on the intimidation issue at this stage,” he said. He ordered six members of the Hall family, who were in court, not to contact the witness and to stay out of Leahy’s shop, until the case is finalised.