Woman feared for life, court hears

A woman was attacked by her ex-partner, dragged into an attic room, gagged and tied to a chair with tape — and feared she was going to be murdered — a garda alleged in court yesterday as he objected to bail being granted to the accused man.

Robert Brodziak was arrested in Warsaw on a European arrest warrant and taken back to Cork by Garda Mark Durcan.

Brodziak, aged 41, with no fixed address, was charged with falsely imprisoning Barbara Gajda and assault causing her harm at her apartment on Coburg St, Cork, on November 28, 2006.

Garda Durcan alleged there was a certain amount of pre-meditation shown by Brodziak who purchased a plane ticket one hour before the alleged incident for a flight to London the following day.

It was also alleged at Cork District Court yesterday when the accused indicated he was applying for bail that it was a very serious incident.

“She alleged that when she arrived home to her flat on November 28, 2006, she was beaten and tied up with masking tape around her mouth.

“It is alleged he told her he was going to kill her. He dragged her into an attic room.

“She thought she was going to die,” Garda Durcan said.

She managed to make phone contact with a friend who contacted her husband and they rushed to the scene and alerted gardaí.

It was further alleged that Brodziak fled when he heard gardaí had been alerted.

Diarmuid Kelleher, defence solicitor, said after the garda evidence that the defendant would not proceed yesterday with his bail application, but might do so in the future.

On the application of Insp Mary King, Judge Con O’Leary remanded the accused in custody for a week.