Longford District Court: Woman says alleged assault left her with broken nose

A Longford woman has told a court how she was left “mentally traumatised” after receiving multiple bruising and a broken nose after being allegedly attacked on her own property earlier this year.

The woman, who cannot be named as the alleged assault was heard during an application by the accused to vary bail to allow him “confined access” to a child, told of how the alleged incident unfolded.

“I was attacked on my own property,” she said, in reference to the said incident on May 4, 2023 at a location in Co Longford.

“I received punches and kicks. I had multiple bruising, a broken nose and not to mention the stress and anxiety that I have never had to experience before.”

The court heard details of how the man at the centre of the allegation was seeking to vary his bail conditions to allow him “confined access” to his child at a property a “few hundred metres” from the alleged victim.

In the witness box, the woman said should the court accede to the request of the applicant, it would greatly hamper her day to day comings and goings.

“If I were to go and see my sister I would have to pass that house, if I want to go to mass and see my friends and family, I have to pass that house. I would be fearful,” she said.

The court was told the man, who resides in Dublin was receiving access to a property in Dublin twice a week.

Solicitor John Quinn, in raising the application, said his client was already subject to stringent bail conditions, one of which included an order to stay away from the woman.

“There is no application to live in the house, it is only confined access to a child to that house and that house alone,” he said, adding there had been no breaches to the orders of the court.

The woman, however, contended any decision to grant the applicant's address would have grave repercussions for her mental well being and all-round sense of safety.

“I have been a school teacher for 20 years and I know the importance of having a strong family unit for a child,” she said. “It's not about bricks and mortar. I have been physically injured and mentally traumatised on my own property.”

In delivering her verdict, Judge Owens said the court had a “balancing exercise” to undertake in accounting for both the right of the applicant in accessing his child and taking on board the views of the alleged injured party.

She said in circumstances where access was already being enjoyed by the man, the application to vary bail was being refused.

Judge Owens qualified those remarks by suggesting there was nothing stopping the man taking his applcation to a higher venue, namely the High Court.

Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said a criminal matter in relation to an alleged assault on the woman was still not ready to proceed.

The case was adjourned to a sitting of Longford District Court on October 10.