A Mullingar man who appealed a refusal of bail all the way to the Supreme Court on legal aid was remanded back in custody until at least Monday (February 28 ) after gardai outlined his catalogue of bench warrants and bail condition breaches in the Circuit Court in Athlone this week (February 23 ).
Thomas Donoghue (23 ), with addresses at Crandara House, Longford and formerly of Ardleigh Park, Mullingar is awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend, producing a knife, and threatening to kill her at the Ardleigh Park address he shared with her and their child on November 6, 2009.
Donoghue is also awaiting trial for his part in the alleged group assault on James Rattigan and Michael Farrell at Ardilaun Green, Mullingar on January 13, as well for two counts of robbery and one charge of false imprisonment.
Garda Bobby Feery from Mullingar told the court how Donoghue was first in court on May 11, 2010, and had the case adjourned to July, November, and then February, when he failed to appear in court.
Two bench warrants were issued in Mullingar Circuit Court on February 15 and executed at Cathedral View two days later.
Judge Anthony Kennedy was told that Donoghue also had a District Court bench warrant issued on January 4 in relation to a charge of trespass in Longford at 5.20am on September 25.
The court heard from Donoghue’s barrister Mr Gareth Robinson that though his client had been granted High Court bail in relation to the false imprisonment charge, he was remanded in custody in the District Court, and denied High Court bail in relation to one of the robbery charges.
However, this was appealed to the Supreme Court and the charges struck out because the DPP had failed to instruct the prosecuting gardaí in time.
Donoghue, however, was imediately re-arrested on another outstanding bench warrant, and Garda Feery told the judge the State would be opposing any further bail application.
“He has been given a list of conditions and he breached every one of them,” said the garda.
He explained how Donoghue hasn’t resided outside the county (as ordered ), stayed out of Mullingar (warrant executed in Cathedral View ), observed his curfew (5.20am trespass ), kept a sober and industrious life (arrested drunk ), and that he “hasn’t signed on daily [in Longford Garda Station] since December 13”.
Hearing that Donoghue was due before the High Court on Monday to re-apply for bail, Judge Kennedy remanded him back in custody until then, and ordered him to re-appear in the District Court in Mullingar on Thursday. The outstanding Circuit Court warrants were re-entered to the next sessions in May, and Donoghue’s legal team was granted legal aid.
