A mother and son charged with criminal damage to their neighbours’ cars in Willow Park were remanded in custody to appear back at Longford District Court next week (June 14 ) after the court learned both defendants committed the alleged offences whilst on bail for previous offences.
Elizabeth O’Neill (45 ), 116 Meadowbrook, Athlone was charged with damaging a motor car belonging to Stefan Muntean at 115 Meadowbrook on June 6, while her son Raymond (23 ), of the same address was charged with damaging two cars belonging to Timpu Nelu and Nialaie Vele at 119 Meadowbrook on the same date.
Garda Padraig Hession told Judge Seamus Hughes in Longford District Court this week (June 7 ) that the defendants had been arrested in the Willow Park area the previous night on suspicion of criminal damage to motor vehicles.
The court then heard that gardaí objected to bail for both accused because of “the seriousness of the charges before the court”.
“Last night, gardaí responded to a call about damage to three cars at Willow Park. Both defendants were identified by a large number of witnesses at the scene,” explained Garda Hession.
“We would be objecting to bail with regard to Raymond O’Neill because he has been charged with serious offences and has had three bench warrants in the past. He also has 33 previous convictions and is currently on bail in relation to a burglary offence, where he is signing on three times a week at Athlone Garda Station.”
The court was then told that Elizabeth O’Neill was also “currently on bail” in respect of a charge of false imprisonment and a Section 3 assault, for which gardaí opposed bail.
Frank Gearty, solicitor for the defendants, told the court that he had been instructed by his clients to apply for bail.
Mr Gearty also highlighted to the court that the defendants had been “provoked” in respect of the incidents before the court and there were also claims of beatings.
“They say that their dog was attacked and Mr O’Neill tells me that he received a beating from others on the night in question. He has visible injuries here before the court,” said Mr Gearty.
Judge Hughes said that the charges were “of a very serious nature” and the matter was compounded by virtue of the fact that both defendants were on bail at the time of the incident in respect of other charges.
“Bail is denied,” said the judge. Both O’Neills will appear back in court next Tuesday.
