Corkman accused of violent attack on wife denied bail

THE 63-year-old Cork man accused of attacking his sleeping wife with boiling water and a claw-hammer failed in his appeal to the High Court for bail and he was remanded in custody for a further fortnight yesterday.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said at Cork District Court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had not yet given directions on the case.

On the sergeant’s application, Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until March 5, with the accused man, Noel Twomey of 18 Carbery Grove, Knocknaheeny, Cork, remanded in custody until March 5.

Defence solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said: “Mr Twomey was refused bail in the High Court. He remains in custody. He is very anxious the matter be dealt with as soon as possible. He feels it should be very straightforward.”

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “Yes, he might think that. But January 15 [the date of the alleged incident] is no particular delay.”

When the case came before Cork District initially, Detective Garda Brian Murphy testified that the accused man flagged down a garda car while soaked in blood and carrying a bloodstained hammer in a bag at 5am on Monday, January 15, at Bakers Rd, Gurranabraher, Cork.

Det Gda Murphy charged Mr Twomey with two counts of assault causing harm to his wife, Jackie Twomey, at the family home.

Objecting to bail, Detective Garda Murphy said: “This is very serious. She went to sleep in the safety of her own bed. Noel Twomey made the very conscious decision to boil a pot of water and retrieve a claw hammer from the tool box.

“He has stated that he paced the apartment 10 to 20 times considering would he carry out his actions. He then entered his bedroom where his wife slept and attacked her in a cowardly fashion as she lay asleep.”

Mr Twomey admitted attacking her and said during his unsuccessful bail application at the district court: “My wife goes out three or four times a week, I don’t drink or smoke.”