A Tuam man who is accused of falsely imprisoning five people in a house in Bohermore, assaulting three of them, and then threatening to burn down the house has been remanded on continuing bail.
Thomas Ward (21 ) with an address given as 36 Parkmore Estate, Tuam, but formerly of 25 Rivercrest, Tuam, Galway, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court last week charged with the alleged false imprisonment of Aileen Kavanagh, Dawn Ridgard, Colette Ridgard, Jimmy Raffley, and Mark McDonagh at 11 St Finbars Terrace, Bohermore, Galway, on November 19, 2006.
Ward also faces further charges which include alleged threats made to Colette Ridgard, namely that he would burn down her house and break every window in it. There is also the assault of Jimmy Raffley causing him harm, and the assault of both Dawn Ridgard and Aileen Kavanagh. Ward also failed to appear at Galway District Court on February 12, 2007.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that the defendant had been granted bail at a previous court sitting and that the Director of Public Prosecutions directed for summary disposal of the offences.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor then said that she had been instructed by her client that he was intending to plead not guilty to the offences.
Ward was remanded on continuing bail to February 9, 2009, to allow time for a book o
