Defendant allegedly rammed his car into ex-partner’s vehicle, Cork court told

Damage estimated to be upwards of €40,000 was allegedly caused by a 46-year-old man accused of ramming two parked cars into the front of his ex-partner’s house, a court has heard.

Yesterday, the accused man consented to being remanded in custody for four weeks.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said at the in camera case under the Domestic Violence Act, where parties cannot be identified, that directions were awaited from the DPP.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the accused, who appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison, was consenting to a remand until June 11.

The defendant is accused of breaching a safety order and three counts of causing criminal damage to his ex-partner’s home and to her car and to the car belonging to his ex-partner’s mother.

The accused said when first charged: “I am very sorry. I love [partner’s name]. I would never hurt her. I don’t know why I did it. I am so embarrassed by my actions. I would never ever touch [partner’s name] or my kids.”

Garda Laura Doolan said in her objection to bail: “It relates to an incident that occurred at 5.20pm on April 23 at her home. 

The defendant allegedly drove his own vehicle into the vehicle of his ex-partner and the vehicle of his ex-mother-in-law.

“He was observed doing so on multiple occasions. This alleged ramming was with such force that one of the cars which was stationary at the time, moved five to six metres, colliding with the home, causing significant structural damage.

“Both injured parties were inside the home at the time. Both identified the defendant as being the driver of the car at the time of the incident. His ex-partner recorded a portion of it. The defendant is clearly identifiable in the mobile phone footage.

“It is currently estimated that upwards of €40,000 worth of damage was caused.”