Gardaí in the District Court this week (January 19 ) were successful in opposing bail for a juvenile defendant charged with criminal damage to a house in October and with assault causing harm in December.
The youth in question was accompanied by his mother to court, and both offences relate to an ongoing feud in the Midlands.
The court was told how the well built lad, who was at liberty on account of a High Court bail, had been arrested on the morning of the court on an outstanding bench warrant after he failed to turn up at a previous court date.
Inspector Nicholas Farrell told Judge David Anderson how the State was going to the High Court the following day “to seek a revocation of bail”, and he asked that the boy be remanded in custody in St Patrick’s Institute before appearing in Cloverhill District Court on January 26.
The boy’s solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn, asked that his client be remanded on continuing bail and stated: “High Court bail still exists until it is revoked”.
“No it doesn’t, Mr McLynn. The [bail] bond was breached. He wasn’t here on January 12,” said the judge.
“I accept that judge, but I explained the confusion which arose between the defendant and his mother [on January 12],” said Mr McLynn.
“He was granted bail under certain circumstances that were breached when the [bench] warrant was issued. That bail is dead,” said Judge Anderson.
“On these charge sheets I refused bail in November,” said the judge. This decision was subsequently reversed in the High Court and was now being challenged by the State.
“My client hasn’t committed any other serious offences,” said Mr McLynn.
“Mr McLynn. The Legislature has decided breach of a bail bond is worth one year in prison, which is as serious as you can get in the District Court,” said the judge as he agreed with the State’s application and remanded the boy in St Pat’s for a week.
