Published: Wednesday, 11th August, 2010 5:00pm

Dublin man who breached bail remanded in custody

Cavan Courthouse.
Pic by==: 97

A Dublin man who allegedly committed an attempted robbery while he was on bail from Virginia District Court was remanded in custody when he came before Cavan District Court recently for breach of his bail conditions.

Liam Deegan, 18 Hayworth Terrace, Ongar Park, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was charged with assaulting causing serious harm to Christopher Higgins at Cheers Bar, Main Street, Ballyjamesduff, on December 5, 2009.

He was also charged with engaging in violent disorder on the same occasion in that he threatened to use violence against another person or put them in fear.

Garda Ann Marie Larkin told the court that on May 21 the defendant was granted bail at Virginia with certain conditions imposed. He was to sign on daily at Blanchardstown Garda Station from May 22 onwards. However, between May 22 and June 23, he failed to present on seven different dates. He had not signed on since June 23.

The defendant was in custody since last week when he was arrested by gardaí in Blanchardstown on a different matter on July 14, charged with a criminal offence and brought before the local district court. The alleged offence was to have occurred on June 24 in Blanchardstown. He had not resided at the address he had given at Virginia.

Garda Larkin added that the reasons they were objecting to bail was that they considered him to be a flight risk, was in breach of several bail conditions, committed an alleged offence while on bail and the gravity of the offences.

Cross-examined by Damien Rudden, solicitor defending, Garda Larkin said she was not aware that Deegan had been assaulted and had to move to an address in Tyrrellstown, Dublin.

In evidence Liam Deegan said on one of the days he was due to sign on he was assaulted by two men and he ended up in hospital for two days. He did report the matter and made a complaint in Blanchardstown. Witness didn't know he had to tell his solicitor that he had changed his address.

When he was released from hospital, his assailants made serious threats against his life and he was living in fear. He was now living at 2 Corhall, Tyrrellstown, and he was going to face the charge in Blanchardstown.

Replying to Inspector Seamus Boyle, Deegan said the alleged offence that he was charged with on June 24 was attempted robbery. He didn't know why he was assaulted and denied committing a serious offence against them.

Judge Sean MacBride said, taking all factors into consideration, he was refusing bail.

"It is the view of this court that the defendant has a propensity to violence and, if granted bail, is likely in interfere with state witnesses and I'm therefore refusing bail."

The defendant was remanded in custody and sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Cavan Circuit Court on November 29.

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