Judge revokes bail and sends Offaly man back to prison

A JUDGE revoked an Offaly man's bail and sent him back to Clover Hill prison, during last week's sitting of Tullamore District Court.

Before the court was Dean Slammon, Church Street, Clara, and gardai made an application to the Judge to revoke his bail because of a number of breaches of the bail.

Mr Slammon was also before the court for engaging in threatening behaviour to two people, a man and a woman, in Clara on Christmas Eve at Erry Mill, Clara. He was also charged with assaulting Andrew Cornally at Erry Mill on Christmas Eve.

The defending solicitor Donal Farrelly told the court that his client has been diagnosed with psychosis for which he receives medication. Mr Farrelly pointed out that Mr Slammon spent a week in Clover Hill prison from December 26th  last, a period which he found very difficult. “He found his week in Clover Hill, emotionally speaking, very difficult. He was bullied and verbally abused by the other prisoners a number of times.”

The defendant's sister Sarah Slammon addressed the court. “When he takes his medication he's ok,” she said.

Mr Farrelly said his client “has been residing with his sister since he left Clover Hill and he's staying out of trouble. He is also attending counselling.”

Judge John O'Leary commented that he couldn't ignore the fact that Mr Slammon “failed to adhere to his curfew time on four occasions.”

Sarah Slammon said her brother missed the curfew time because was in his father's house, just around the corner; and that on each occasion he had taken his medication which made him fall asleep in his father's.

Mr Farrelly asked Judge O'Leary to not revoke his bail. “Because he's in bad mental health, prison is not a fit place for him.”

Mr Farrelly added that Mr Slammon was previously in full-time employment as a chef but he lost his job because his mental health suffered during Covid.

Mr Farrelly pointed out that other matters before the District Court relating to his defendant were adjourned two weeks ago to February 15 next by Judge Andrew Cody. He asked the Judge once again to not revoke bail but to remand on continuing bail to February 15.

Judge O'Leary said he had applications from three Gardai to revoke bail. “On the 20th  of December 2022 remand on continuing bail was granted; the default position was that the defendant would go to prison and wait, and an application for bail was made on that basis. The Act says the bail may be revoked. This defendant has breached his bail conditions. Since the 20th  of December he hasn't observed his curfew and on Christmas Eve in Clara he committed a public order offence. His sister is doing her best but the defendant has been behaving in a chaotic way and that's why he is here today. I am therefore revoking his bail.”

Mr Farrelly said his client was pleading guilty to the threatening behaviour in Clara on Christmas Eve. Sgt James O'Sullivan told the court that on Christmas Eve Slammon verbally abused a woman and threw his coat at her. “She asked him to leave the housing estate and he called her a bi***.” During the same incident, the Sergeant said Mr Slammon aggressively pressed his forehead against another man's forehead.

He said Mr Slammon had 21 previous convictions most of which were for public order, including a conviction for assault dating back to 2006.

Mr Farrelly told the court that his client was very contrite and sorry for his behaviour.

“He was in good employment for many years until his difficulties overtook him. He is 33 years of age and suffers from an alcohol problem.”

A victim impact statement given by the woman threatened on Christmas Eve was read out to the court. In the statement the victim said she thought, “Dean's behaviour was disgusting. On the evening I found him very threatening. I felt unsafe when he threw his coat at me. He is drunk a lot of the time. Something always seems to happen when he is around. I was psychologically affected over the Christmas and it ruined Christmas. I'm on anti depressants and the events of Christmas Eve have added to my depression. I don't want any more trouble. I hope by making this statement Dean will be more respectful to me.”

The male victim said, in a victim impact statement, that he was not happy with the way the woman was treated by Mr Slammon on Christmas Eve.

“I was disgusted by his behaviour. It ruined Christmas.”

Judge O'Leary convicted for threatening behaviour, sentencing to three months imprisonment, suspended for six months. He revoked bail and remanded in custody to Tullamore District Court on 8 of February next.