Limerick man charged over Christmas Day ‘glassing’ granted bail despite retaliation fears

A LIMERICK man charged with assaulting and injuring another man in a County Limerick town on Christmas Day has been granted bail despite a strong garda objection.

Daniel (Danny) O’Brien, 33, of 13 Ballywilliam, Rathkeale  was arrested, charged and cautioned by Detective Garda Jerry O’Sullivan this Monday.

He appeared before Judge Mary Larkin at Newcastle West court this Tuesday, charged under section three of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 in connection with an incident at Fair Hill, Rathkeale last December 25.

It is alleged another man, Danny Quilligan, was struck with a broken glass bottle at around 8.20pm and that he received multiple wounds which required a large number of stitches.

Solicitor Charlie O’Connor applied for bail for his client but Det Garda O’Sullivan opposed the application on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence and that the  accused would not remain in the jurisdiction or abide by the conditions of bail.

O’Brien, the garda said, had been in England since the assault, had only recently returned to Limerick and had admitted during interview that he was at the location but denied assaulting the injured party.

Det Garda O'Sullivan said it was his belief and that of senior gardai that there would be further violence and tit-for-tat reprisals if the accused was bailed.

Mr O’Connor argued  there was no evidence to suggest his client would not appear in court if granted bail.

He said his client had returned from the UK voluntarily and he submitted that he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Judge Mary Larkin said that given the nature and degree of the offence, she was satisfied it was a serious offence.

“I am concerned in relation to the evidence that this is an ongoing feud,” she said.

“That leads me to believe it is reasonable to refuse bail to prevent the commission of further serious offences.”

Considering the objection, the Judge said she was concerned that the accused went to England the day after the alleged incident.  

Danny O’Brien took the stand where he undertook, if given bail, to stay away from witnesses and the injured party.

He lived in the UK, he said, but came back regularly. 

His parents and girlfriend live in Rathkeale, he said.

He was prepared, he told his solicitor, to stay out of the jurisdiction at his home in the UK but to return for court appearances.

He told Inspector Andrew Lacey he had gone to England after the incident  because “I was afeared of my life that something would happen me”.

After indicating she was willing to grant bail, the judge looked for an independent surety of €20,000 with €10,000 to be lodged in court to secure the accused’s return to deal with the charge.

However, following a recess, consent to bail was agreed subject to the lodgement of €10,000 in the accused’s own name.

When released, the accused is to reside in the UK, returning only for court appearances.

“If he comes to Ireland I want him to notify the gardai only to make sure there is no retaliatory response,” Judge Larkin said.

Mr O’Brien was remanded in custody, with consent to bail, pending a further court appearance this Thursday.