A 32 year old chef accused of throwing a cup of urine into the face of a Garda at Ennis Garda Station is to contest the charge.
Joel Lonia of no fixed abode has remained in prison on remand since December 12th in connection with the alleged assault of two Gardai while being detained at Ennis Garda Station in the early hours of December 12th.
At Ennis District Court, solicitor for Mr Lonia, Daragh Hassett told Judge Mary Larkin that Mr Lonia wants to contest the charges and asked that the case be set down for hearing.
Mr Lonia was appearing via video link from prison and told the court that he was living “on a diet of sugar and bread” in prison and not eating anything else.
Judge Larkin said that the case can be listed for next Tuesday and Mr Hassett asked that the case be listed first.
Giving evidence during a bail hearing last month for Mr Lonia, Garda Sebastian Pychynski said that it will be alleged that while Mr Lonia was being detained at Ennis Garda Station, a Garda on the night-shift at the station opened a hatch to a cell door and had a cup of urine thrown into his face by Mr Lonia.
Along with the alleged ‘urine’ assault, Mr Lonia is also charged with the assault of another Garda where the accused is alleged to have thrown Coca Cola into the face of a second Garda’s face through the cell door hatch.
Mr Lonia was also before the court for three theft charges at the Ennis branch of Penney’s on December 11th where he is accused of stealing goods to the value of €68 that included a military jacket and hiking boots along with a public order charge near the Template Hotel in Ennis.
When charged and cautioned, Garda Pychynski said the accused replied ‘suck my d**k’ at 11.30pm on Sunday night, December 11th at Ennis Garda Station.
Judge Larkin last month refused bail stating that she was not satisfied that any promises that Mr Lonia gives not to breach the law will be upheld.
In evidence at the bail hearing, Mr Lonia said: “I have no home. I have been sleeping outside.”
Mr Lonia said: “I have been sleeping in a Dublin Garda Station and in Ennis Garda Station a number of times.”
Judge Larkin remanded Mr Lonia in custody to January 24th to appear at Ennis District Court.
