*Laurel Lodge.
A CLARE MAN charged in connection with the alleged street assault of a retired District Court judge has been on remand in custody for two months with directions in the case yet to be made by the DPP, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, Jamie O’Connor was making his sixth appearance in the case concerning the charge that he assaulted retired district court judge, Joseph Mangan on Saturday, June 14th.
Mr O’Connor (44) of Laurel Lodge, Clare Rd, Ennis has been in custody since June 18th after Judge Alec Gabbett refused an application for bail and bail was subsequently refused in the High Court.
At a vacation sitting of Ennis District Court, Judge Fiona Brennan proposed a further four-week remand in custody for Mr O’Connor after being told that DPP directions are not available in the case.
In response, solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick for the accused said, “I would be anxious that he would not be further remanded for four weeks because this man has been in custody since June 18th. Progress has been slow to date. It is a relatively straightforward matter”.
Sgt Frank O’Grady said that the Garda file went from the State Solicitor’s office earlier this month to the DPP “so it will probably be September before we get directions”.
Sgt O’Grady suggested adjourning the case for one week to get clarification.
Judge Brennan said that at the next court sitting, she would be disposed to hear an application to make the next remand peremptory.
In connection with the alleged assault, it is alleged that Mr O’Connor who was appearing via video link from Limerick prison told the former judge “you put me in jail for nothing” before allegedly punching him outside an Ennis cafe.
The retired judge now in his early eigthies served as a judge for 27 years and was the assigned District Court judge for Clare from 2001 to October 2011 when he retired at the age of 67.
In the case, Mr O’Connor is charged with the assault causing harm of Joseph Mangan at Barrack Court, Ennis contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on June 14th.
At a contested bail hearing on June 18th, Judge Gabbett said, “This is an extremely serious alleged offence where a retired district court judge now into his eighties was allegedly assaulted for carrying out a public duty when he was a judge”.
Sgt John Burke told the bail hearing that at 2.25pm on June 14th, Mr Mangan was sitting outside the Gourmet Store on Barrack Court in Ennis having a coffee.
Sgt Burke said that it will be alleged that Mr O’Connor approached Mr Mangan “and told him aggressively ‘you put me in jail for nothing’.
Sgt Burke said, “Following a brief interaction it is alleged that Mr O’Connor stood up and punched Mr Mangan”.
Sgt Burke said that Mr O’Connor then fled the scene in the direction of O’Connell Street.
He said that Mr Mangan went to the local injuries unit in Ennis where he was treated for possible concussion and dizziness.
Sgt Burke said that Mr Mangan made a statement to local Gardaí.
Sgt Burke said that Mr O’Connor was later arrested where he made no admissions “and blamed alcohol for his memory loss”.
Mr O’Connor (44) of Laurel Lodge, Clare Rd, Ennis is also charged with on June 15th stealing three X cans of beer valued at €11.40 from Dunnes Stores, O’Connell Street, Ennis.
The alleged theft occurred one day after Mr O’Connor is alleged to have assaulted Mr Mangan.
