Pitchfork accused has bail revoked

Bail has been revoked for a Raphoe man who is charged with threatening Gardai with a pitchfork after failing to sign on at a Garda Station on six out of seven weeks.

Samuel James (Jim) Clarke, a 59-year-old of Maherahane, Raphoe was brought before Letterkenny District Court this week.

Clarke was granted bail in January with a number of conditions attached, including that he sign on at Letterkenny Garda Station each Monday.

Garda Cathal Feely, who gave evidence of arresting Clarke on foot of a warrant this week, told the court that he was applying for the accused's bail to be revoked for alleged breaches.

Garda Feely told the court that Clarke failed to sign on January 23, January 30, February 6, February 20, February 27 and March 6.

Clarke claimed that he took a taxi from his home at 7am and the door of the Garda Station was locked.

He told the court that he was dyslexic and thought the condition said 7pm and not 7am.

Sergeant Jim Collins informed Clarke that Garda station records showed that he signed at 11.20am on February 13.

Clarke told the court that, as part of previous bail conditions on another matter, he had to sign on twice a day and complied with that direction. Sergeant Collins pointed out that he regularly carried out previous bail checks on Clarke, who he would most evenings observe reading a book of evidence.

“Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it,” Clarke told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.

Garda Feely told the court that since taking up bail in January, Clarke was also charged with four counts of breaching a safety order. The court heard claims that Clarke pulled an electrical cable, cutting the electricity supply of another house, and allegations that he removed the lid from a septic tank before pouring clay into it.

Clarke is charged with threatening to cause harm to members of An Garda Siochana in the course of a dispute produce, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person and article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, a large pitch fork, contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

Judge Cunningham said she was satisfied that there had been multiple breaches of bail and was revoking bail. Clarke was remanded in custody to appear via videolink at Letterkenny District Court on Monday next, March 20.

On the charges of breaching the safety order, bail was set on Clarke's own bond of €1,000, with €500 to be lodged.

Judge Cunningham laid down conditions, including that Clarke: is to commit no offence and be of otherwise good behaviour; must sign on once a week at Letterkenny Garda Station between 9am and 7pm; is to have no contact, either directly or indirectly, including via social media, with the alleged injured party; is not to interfere with ESB lines or agents.

This matter will also be before the March 20 sitting.

Legal aid was granted to solicitor Mr Donough Cleary.