A JUDGE has refused bail to a man who allegedly punched an innocent member of the public, knocking him to he ground and causing him serious injuries.
The Limerick District Court heard that it is also alleged that on May 31 of this year, Martin Faulkner (35), Bay 17 Longpavement, Longpavement Road, Limerick, threatened staff at a deli counter with a knife and a pair of tongs before being arrested.
Garda Shane Stanley was giving evidence before Judge Patricia Harney in Limerick District Court on why there were Garda objections to granting Mr Faulkner bail.
Garda Stanley said that it is the belief of Gardaà that, if given bail, Mr Faulkner could commit serious offences and/or would not turn up in court to answer the charges against him.
Garda Stanley outlined how it is alleged that, on May 29, Mr Faulkner approached a man not known to him from behind, punching him and knocking him to the ground.
The victim suffered a broken eye socket, injury to his nose, and cuts to his head, the court was told.
On May 31, it’s alleged that Mr Faulkner entered a Daybreak store in the city, where he bought and paid for a number of items.
It alleged that he returned a couple of minutes later, demanding food from the hot deli counter.
It is claimed that he went behind the counter, grabbed a serrated knife and a tongs, and threatened staff, who backed away in fear.
It’s then alleged that he grabbed items from the hot food counter and left without paying fro them.
Garda Stanley agreed, when being questioned by Mr Faulkner’s solicitor, that when he was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the incidents he was intoxicated and Gardaà had to wait for him to recover enough to be interviewed.
Solicitor Tom Kiely asked Judge Patricia Harney not to refuse his client bail.
“He has addiction issues,” Mr Kiely said. “These charges are a matter for the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) to decide and that will take some time.”
“He will agree to reside with his wife. He wants to go into a residential programme to deal with his issues”.
When she asked how long the residential programme would take to complete, Judge Harney was told five months.
Outlining her decision to refuse bail, the Judge said: “I accept that Mr Faulkner is innocent unless proven guilty but I also accept the evidence of Garda Stanley.”
She said, given the seriousness of the charges, the severity of the penalty on conviction, and the nature of the evidence, there were concerns that Mr Faulkner may not turn up for trial.
Judge Harney remanded Mr Faulkner in custody until this Tuesday.