Bail granted for Kildare court defendant accused of domestic violence order breach

A Kildare court defendant accused of domestic violence order breach was granted bail on Thursday, February 1.

The man appeared before substitute Judge Fiona Brennan at Naas District Court, during an in-camera (in private) court session.

He stood accused of sending his ex-partner an offensive or intimidating message via electronic communication.

A garda who took to the stand explained that the man was cautioned in the usual manner, made no reply after caution, and was given a copy of the true charge sheet.

It was heard that gardaí had no objection to bail.

Judge Brennan granted bail for the accused, and ordered him to sign on at his local garda station twice a week as part of his bail conditions.

When gardaí asked for the judge to make an order barring the man from visiting a certain county outside of County Kildare (which is where the man's ex-partner lives), the judge refused it, due to the fact that the breach occurred by electronic means.

She sent the man's case forward to a different District Court for hearing on a date later this month.

The judge also told the man's defending barrister, Sarah Connolly, to remind her client of the conditions outlined within the protection order.