*The incident occurred in John Paul Estate in Kilrush.
A WEST CLARE man allegedly slashed a former ‘very close friend’ across the face with a Stanley knife and then assaulted him four days later when the man was out ‘trick or treating’ with his children at Halloween.
At Ennis District Court, Garda Brion Dolan told the court that it will be alleged that Martin O’Callaghan (38) slashed Thomas de Loughrey outside the home of Mr O’Callaghan at Beechpark, John Paul Estate, Kilrush across the right cheek of his face from his right ear to the corner of his mouth on October 27th.
Garda Dolan told the court that the wound was 10cm long and 1cm deep but Mr de Loughrey initially refused medical assistance before going to UHL Limerick two days later for medics to treat the facial wound.
In relation to a second assault causing harm charge against Mr O’Callaghan, Garda Dolan said that Mr de Loughlrey was out ‘trick or treating’ with his children near his home on October 31st when he met Mr O’Callaghan.
The Garda said that Mr de Loughrey was wearing a snood to hide facial scar and an argument began between the two over the snood where Mr O’Callaghan is alleged to have punched Mr de Loughrey in the face which re-opened the slash wound.
Garda Dolan said that Mr de Loughrey has provided a statement of complaint to Gardai. Garda Dolan said that until recently Mr de Loughrey and Mr O’Callaghan “were very close friends” and Mr de Loughrey has identified Mr O’Callaghan as the assailant, alleging that he slashed the right side of his face with a Stanley blade.
Solicitor, Tara Godfrey told Judge Adrian Harris that she was seeking bail for her client.
Objecting to bail for the accused, Garda Dolan handed photographs into court of the slash injury on Mr de Loughrey’s face.
Garda Dolan said that a subsequent Garda search of Mr O’Callaghan’s property recovered a Stanley knife held together with duct tape.
Garda Dolan said that it will be further alleged that on October 29th, Mr O’Callaghan came to Mr de Loughrey’s home to apologise for assaulting him.
He said that the two men live less than 100 metres apart in Kilrush.
Garda Dolan said that Mr O’Callaghan has a very serious drug addiction and on Halloween was very intoxicated.
Garda Dolan expressed concern that if Mr O’Callaghan secures bail that he will attempt to interfere and try to coerce Mr de Loughrey to withdraw the charges.
Judge Harris refused bail and Ms Godfrey asked that Mr O’Callaghan be placed on a drug free landing in prison.
Judge Harris has remanded Mr O’Callaghan in custody to Ennis District Court to November 18th.
