Longford man charged with assault causing harm to three gardaí appears in court
The defendant was remanded in custody with consent to bail, provided certain conditions were met
A 32-year-old Edgeworthstown man appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens in Athlone District Court earlier today charged in connection with an alleged shooting incident where three gardaí sustained injuries.
Father of four Darren Dowler, with an address at 70 Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, was charged with assault causing harm to three members of An Garda Siochana, at his home address. The gardaí attended Mr Dowler’s residence shortly after 6am yesterday (Tuesday, February 20) for the purposes of executing a number of court orders.
After they gained access to the property, it is alleged that the defendant discharged what is believed to be a pellet gun, on a number of occasions injuring the unarmed uniform gardaí.
The man made good his escape from the property. A search of the area was immediately conducted by gardaí, supported by the Garda Air Support Unit. He was subsequently located and arrested.
An application for bail was made by Mr Dowler’s solicitor, John Quinn and this was objected to by gardaí.
Following the contested bail hearing, Judge Owens decided to remand Mr Dowler in custody with consent to bail, provided certain conditions were met.
The bail requirements she imposed included an independent surety of €5,000 with €2,500 to be lodged and approved by the court.
Should the defendant take up his bail, other conditions set out by Judge Owens were that he must surrender his passport, reside at his home address, remain contactable at all times, maintain a curfew, and sign on three times a week at Longford Garda Station.
Mr Dowler was remanded in custody, with consent to bail, to appear before Longford District Court next Tuesday, February 27.