THE STATE is employing one of the country’s best known criminal barristers to lead the prosecution case in Clare’s first ever coercive control trial.
At Ennis Circuit Court this week, State prosecutor Lorcan Connolly BL told Judge Francis Comerford that Shane Costelloe SC would be leading the State in the case.
Mr Connolly said that he is appearing in the case for the DPP to be led by Mr Costelloe and asked that a trial date of July 4th be specially fixed.
Solicitor, John Casey for the accused said that his client is to be represented by Michael Collins SC and Rebecca Treacy BL in the case.
Judge Francis Comerford formally set the trial date for July 4th and requested that any issues that may have to be decided in the absence of the jury be decided before July 4th next.
In the case, a 49-year old Co Clare man is pleading not guilty to 22 separate charges that include the alleged sexual assault and false imprisonment of his ex-wife.
The man is also pleading not guilty to a charge of coercive control against the woman.
It is the first such coercive control charge under the Domestic Violence Act to come before the criminal courts in Clare where the man denies knowingly and persistently engaging in behaviour that was controlling or coercive and which had a serious effect on the woman who was or is his spouse between January 1st 2019 to May 15th 2019.
In total, the man is to face 12 counts of sexual assault, six counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault calling harm against the woman, one count of criminal damage and the coercive control charge.
John Casey told the district court previously that he was asking that the legal aid certificate be extended to cover a senior counsel along with a junior counsel in the circuit court due to the seriousness of the charges facing his client.
In the case against the accused, the first alleged sexual assault against the woman is alleged to have occurred on October 15th 2018 with the final sex assault charge in February 2020. The alleged sexual assaults took place at two separate addresses.
Legal aid has been granted for the man and Gardai have not opposed conditional bail for the accused and the man remains on bail.
