A MAN accused of allegedly attempting to ram a car and attack it using a slash hook, hammer, and knife has been refused bail.
Dean Casey (24), with a home address of Clonlong Halting Site appeared before Limerick District Court charged with two counts of violent disorder on June 10 on Pery Square last year.
Mr Casey, who was driving a silver Avensis at the time of the alleged incident, attempted to reverse into a white Volkswagen before stepping out of the car and attempting to attack the man and damage the car with a slash hook, as well as hammers and knives, the court heard.
The defendant who was waiting for his son outside a gym in the area made good his escape following the alleged attack and reported the incident to Henry Street Garda Station.
Objecting to bail, Detective Garda Mike O’Neill from Roxboro Road Garda Station said he did not believe that Mr Casey would abide by any bail conditions if he was released and claimed that he could “intimidate witnesses and cause serious injuries to the other parties”.
However his solicitor Tom Kiely said that there were no incidents of witness intimidation by Mr Casey in the five months after the alleged incident occurred, while he was at liberty.Â
He also maintained that CCTV footage in which Detective O’Neill claimed identified Mr Casey in possession of the slash hooks was “not the clearest footage in the world”.
However Detective O’Neill said the footage “identified Mr Casey with the slash hook perfectly”.
Issues surrounding Mr Casey’s place of residence were also of concern to Detective Garda O’Neill who said a change in address where the accused could be contacted was not given to them in advance.
The new address at the Maldron Hotel in Limerick City, according to Garda O’Neill, was a breach of Mr Casey’s existing bail conditions, where he was ordered to stay out of Limerick City. He had previously resided at an address in Emily, County Tipperary.
He also did not provide an accurate phone number to be contacted on, Detective O’Neill added.
Mr Kiely appealed to Judge Patricia Harney to give his client “a chance to prove himself”.Â
He said Mr Casey was in employment at a family run waste management company in Limerick, and would maintain a record of employment if released on bail.
Judge Harney remanded Mr Casey in custody to appear in court again in May.Â
– Court Reporting Scheme