*The matter came before Ennis District Court.
“CHILDREN and love drive people mad, it just drives people over the edge”, a judge has told a court.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comment after being told that a row over child access was the spark for a string of alleged offences by a 28 year old Limerick man against his ex-partner and her father.
In court, Garda Mary Cuthbert said that it will be alleged that the Limerick man told his ex-partner’s mother that she would have to pay for her daughter’s funeral.
The man -who can’t be named for legal reasons was appearing in court concerning a number of alleged offences against his ex-partner including one where he threatened by her text that he would “f**kin bury you”.
The estranged couple have two children together and in evidence, Garda Mary Cuthbert said that the man gained entry to the woman’s home when she wasn’t there and sent her a picture of her children in the house in Co Clare and sent her another message that he was going to smash the house up.
Garda Cuthbert said that the accused also sent texts on November 4th threatening members of the woman’s family living in the Limerick area.
Garda Cuthbert said that it will be also alleged that the accused assaulted his ex-partner’s father when he hit him with a bolt cutter on the arm and caused significant damage to a car that the alleged victim was travelling in the early hours of November 5th.
The alleged offences also include five alleged breaches of a Protection Order under the Domestic Violence Act that the woman obtained in court against her ex-partner.
Opposing bail for the accused, Garda Cuthbert stated that if granted bail, Gardaí have concerns that the escalating nature of the man’s alleged offending will continue and he will continue to commit serious offences if granted bail including carrying out his threats to kill his ex-partner.
After hearing the Garda objections in the case, Judge Alec Gabbett asked, “Has anyone control over this man or can he control himself?”
Judge Alec Gabbett acceded to solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick’s bail application for his client on strict conditions including that the accused stay out of Co Clare except for court appearances connected to the case.
Judge Gabbett said, “The only conditions that would satisfy me would be this man living at home as if it is a prison”.
Judge Gabbett told the man “this is duvet up to the nose for you – or under the bed”.
Imposing a 9pm to 8am curfew on the accused, Judge Gabbett said, “There is no ‘Spotted Dog’ here for you- this is ‘leaba’ at 9 clock every night”.
He said, “No pub, no nightclub, no fun at all, sorry about that”.
Judge Gabbett told the man that he was within “a hair’s breadth” of going to prison and being remanded in custody. Judge Gabbett said that there were sufficient grounds for him to remand the man in custody.
The man told the judge that he is currently applying for a passport.
In reply, Judge Gabbett said, “You don’t need it. You are going nowhere. No Canaries for you this year.”
Solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick said that the alleged offences arise from the man’s issue about access for the two children that has escalated.
Mr Fitzpatrick said that his client “was having access and it unilaterally ceased”.
Judge Gabbett said that if the man had issues over access, there is a process he could have pursued in the Family Law court.
He asked, “Why didn’t he go to see his family law solicitor instead of taking things into his own hands”.
Judge Gabbett said that as part of the man’s bail conditions, he must have no contact whatsoever with the alleged injured party.
Judge Gabbett said, “He might not see his children for Christmas – he has made a bags of this”.
The judge said, “Children and love drive people mad – it just drives people over the edge”.
“What we really need in Clare and Limerick is a centre where safe access is supervised and where mothers and fathers feel safe. That is so badly needed”.
