Three men granted bail following Ballyconnell incident

Three men arrested and charged following incidents of assault and criminal damage at a shopping centre in Ballyconnell, County Cavan this week were granted bail on strict conditions.

The men were brought before a special sitting of the District Court in Monaghan Town today (Saturday).

All three were ordered by Judge Stephaine Coggans to stay out of Ballyconnell except for medical or legal appointments while the matters were before the courts.

Gerard Cawley, aged 35, with addresses at St Clares Court, Cavan and Drumcannon, Swanlinbar, and Daniel Tobin, aged 30, with addresses at Clonandra, Redhills, Cavan and River Valley, Ballyconnell, are both charged with assaulting Niall McManus, causing him harm contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act, at the Realta Shopping Centre, Ballyconnell on August 5, and on the same date and location maliciously causing €400 damage to the passenger window of a white Ford Transit Tipper van property of Jonathan Gould.

They also face a charge alleging that on the occasion they had in their possession a claw hammer for the causing of injury or incapacitating a person, contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

The third defendant, Darren Casserley with an address at the Old Post Office, Bawnboy, Ballyconnell, is charged with criminal damage to an Apple iPhone property of Niall McManus on the same occasion, assaulting Mr McManus causing him harm, and having a hammer in his possession for the purposes of causing injury or incapacity contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

As part of their investigations, Gardaí carried out a search and arrest operation yesterday (Friday) in West Cavan.

The operation involved 40 members from Cavan Community Engagement, Cavan Crime Function Area, supported by the Armed Support Unit.

Four addresses were searched and the three men were arrested.

Judge Coggans granted each man bail on their own bond of €100 with an independent surety of €2,000 cash on condition that they reside at stipulated addresses and stay out of Ballyconnell town in its entirety except for pre-arranged medical appointments or consultations with lawyers.

The Judge directed that each defendant refrain from alcohol or illegal drugs and have no contact with the alleged injured parties or potential witnesses in the case by direct or indirect means.

“There is to be no direct contact, no messages, no social media contact or passing remarks – nothing,” she warned.

Signing on conditions at Cavan Garda Station and 9pm-6 am curfew conditions were also attached to the defendants’ bail and they were directed to surrender their passports to the Gardaí and not apply for travel documents, and to make their mobile phone numbers available to the Gardaí and have their phones switched on at all times to facilitate Garda contact.

Independent suretors for each of the defendants were in court and Garda Inspector Patrick Hannon, Cavan Garda Station told Judge Coggans that the Gardaí had no objections to them.

Each told the Judge when handing over the cash amounts that they understood that their surety would be forfeit if the defendant they had lodged it for failed to appear at any future court hearing.

Inspector Hannon asked that each defendant be remanded on bail to appear at Cavan District Court on September 10, stating that there is a likelihood of further charges and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Judge Coggans granted the State application.