Man (20s) accused of 10 'domestic settings' assaults, threats, and witness intimidation

Tom Tuite

A Midlands man accused of repeatedly attacking and threatening to kill his former partner, and of witness intimidation over three years, has been granted more time to consider his plea.

The man in his mid-twenties, who is not being named for legal reasons, appeared at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Friday for arraignment.

The defence said it was alleged the offences happened “in a domestic setting”, and sought an adjournment. The man’s barrister applied for legal aid to include senior counsel to represent the accused, who did not address the court.

No plea was entered.

The man faces 17 charges, including 10 allegations of assault causing harm to the woman under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

He is also accused of witness intimidation in 2024 to cause an investigation or the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with, contrary to section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999.

He has a single charge for the production of a mobile phone as a weapon, as well as three counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm to the woman, and two charges of criminal damage to her phone and other objects.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at various locations, mainly in Co Westmeath and Co Meath, on dates from 2021 to 2024.

Judge Roderick Maguire noted there was “a proliferation of alleged offences” and agreed to the request to extend legal aid for a defence senior counsel. The accused was remanded in continuing custody to appear again next month.