THE FORMER partner of a young Limerick mother who is fighting for her life after being savagely beaten in an attack last week was refused bail to go and see her.
Patrick Casey (23), of 31 Caislean Na Habhain, Castletroy, is in custody awaiting trial on a charge of alleged robbery unrelated to the attack incident last week.
This Tuesday, he asked the Limerick District Court for temporary compassionate bail to visit Scarlet Faulkner, his former partner and the mother of his child, who is in a serious condition in Cork University Hospital (CUH).
Ms Faulkner, a 20-year-old Limerick mother, was severely beaten in an attack at Birdhill on March 21. She suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to hospital.
Two people are currently before the courts on charges related to the incident.
On Tuesday, Mr Casey’s solicitor, Darrach McCarthy, told the court that his client is anxious to see Ms Faulkner and “to spend some time with his child. Ms Faulkner’s condition is quite grave,” he told Judge Patricia Harney in the Limerick District Court.
The court heard that Ms Faulkner and Mr Casey had not been in a relationship for about a year.
Giving evidence of Garda objections to Mr Casey getting compassionate or any bail, Detective Garda Ryan Harkin said it is feared that, if released, Mr Casey may “commit serious offences while on bail or not come to court” for the hearing of the charge against him.
Judge Harney said that were it not for the objections, she would “give serious consideration to his application, given the tragedy of the situation,” but given the objections raised, she was refusing temporary bail.
Mr McCarthy said that “if there is a change in the status of Ms Faulkner – and we hope there is not – I may be making another application”.
Judge Harney remanded Mr Casey in custody until April 14.