Man charged with assaulting girlfriend and 'hijacking' her car in alleged incident in Cork
The incident only ended when a stinger device was deployed by gardaí in Mallow disabled the car.
A Kerry man was arrested and charged with assaulting his girlfriend and "hijacking" her Audi A3 in an alleged incident in Cork that only ended when a stinger device deployed by gardaí in Mallow disabled the car.
Detective Garda Alan Johnson arrested 27-year-old Darragh Gill of Farnastack, Lisselton, County Kerry, and charged him with assault causing harm to the young woman and taking her car without her permission.
There was an objection to bail but solicitor, Eddie Burke, applied for bail to be granted and said the young man could return to live with his mother in Listowel and would abide by all bail conditions that might be set.
Judge Mary Dorgan granted him bail on strict conditions – including having no contact direct or indirect with the young woman.
Det. Garda Johnson testified, “On December 6 gardaí responded to a call where it was reported that a woman had her white Audi A3 hijacked by a man outside O’Herlihy’s Centra on Curraheen Road, Cork, shortly before 7 p.m..
“The man had left the scene in the vehicle and all units were notified.
“The young woman had a large bump to her forehead and an ambulance was called. She was not required to attend hospital for treatment. She had bruises and lumps on her head.
“She told gardaí that while driving, Darragh Gill was in the vehicle with her and was intoxicated. She alleged he became aggressive with her and that she drove to the Centra where she parked outside for safety.
“She alleged that he punched her in the head and grabbed her hair while in the car.
“A shopkeeper stated that he observed a man punching a woman in the white Audi outside the shop and he therefore proceeded to help her out of the vehicle and take her inside the shop to safety.
“It is alleged he drove off in the car without her consent and hit another parked car while doing so and failed to remain at the scene. He caused damage to the car. It was all captured on CCTV.
“The stolen vehicle was stopped following a pursuit in Mallow later in the night following the deployment of a stinger device. He fled the scene and was apprehended a short time later at Mallow train station.”
He will live at his mother’s home at Listowel, County Kerry, as a condition of his bail.
Sgt. Pat Lyons said gardaí were concerned that the accused would interfere with the injured party in the case or would return to Sweden where he has a job.
The accused said he would stay away from her and would not return to Sweden in order to face the case against him.
Mr Burke said that fortunately, the young lady did not require medical attention.
He said the defendant and the complainant had been in a relationship for a few months.
Sgt. Lyons said the charges were serious.
The accused said during his application for bail, “It is a major wake-up call.”
Judge Dorgan put the case back until February 20 2024 to allow time for directions to be obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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