*Photograph: John Mangan
A SHANNON man accused of a ‘very serious’ assault on his then girlfriend on St Patrick’s Day that allegedly left her with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung is now also charged with her false imprisonment.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, two new charges were brought against Mark Hayes (35) of Aidan Park, Shannon.
Mr Hayes is now charged with false imprisonment of his then girlfriend at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon on March 17th last contrary to Section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences against the Person Act.
In the second new charge, Mr Hayes is also charged with threatening to kill his then girlfriend at the same address on the same date contrary to Section 5 of the Non Fatal Offences against the Person Act.
Det Garda Noel Carroll of Shannon Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution on Wednesday morning at Ennis courthouse and said that Mr Hayes made no reply after charge and caution.
Solicitor for Mr Hayes, Stiofan Fitzpatrick said that his client has been on remand in custody since April 12th stating that he was anxious that there would be progress in the case.
Last month, Judge Alec Gabbett refused bail to Mr Hayes and Mr Fitzpatrick said that a bail application for Mr Hayes is going to go before the High Court this Thursday (June 13th).
At a previous court hearing in the case, Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan of Shannon Garda Station alleged that the victim in the case sustained a broken eye socket, stitches to her face, staples to her head, a collapsed lung that required to be drained, bruises to her body and broken ribs arising from Mr Hayes’s alleged assault.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said that it is the State’s case that Mr Hayes assaulted his then girlfriend at a house in Rineanna View, Shannon on St Patrick’s Day and assaulted another man unknown to him on April 11th at Aidan’s Park, Shannon.
Det Sgt O’Hagan stated that arising from the alleged assault against the woman on March 17th, she spent 11 days in hospital and required surgery on her broken eye socket.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said that it was “a very serious assault”
In the second assault, Det Sgt O’Hagan stated that it will be alleged that Mr Hayes assaulted a man unknown to him on the street in Shannon punching and kicking him and forcing him to the ground.
Sgt John Burke told court today that the DPP has directed that the case is to go forward to the circuit court and that a Book of Evidence is required.
Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Hayes to appear in custody via video link at Ennis District Court to next Wednesday.
He told Mr Hayes that he if he does obtain bail in the High Court, he must appear in person in court next week. Mr Hayes replied “yes – of course”.
