Man to appear in court on false imprisonment charges

A Kerry farm labourer charged in connection with alleged false imprisonment of a father, daughter, and her boyfriend at a Co Clare house is to appear in court again on Wednesday.

At a special weekend sitting of Ennis District Court, Thomas Howard, aged 50, was remanded in custody after appearing on charges in relation to a two-and-a-half hour standoff where he was alleged to have falsely imprisoned the three at Donnybrook Cottage, Sixmilebridge last Thursday.

Mr Howard of Gortnaminch, Listowel, Co Kerry, is also charged with having a shotgun in his possession with intent to cause an indictable offence, robbery, contrary to Section 27B of the Firearms Act 1964.

At the brief hearing, Garda Roddy Burke of Shannon Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution of Mr Howard.

He said: “On Thursday, at 8.15pm, I arrested the accused at Donnybrook Cottage, Donnybrook, Sixmilebridge. I conveyed him to Shannon Garda Station and at 9.35pm on July 3, I charged him.” Garda Burke said that in response to each charge after caution, Mr Howard replied “I’m guilty.”

Mr Howard is charged with falsely imprisoning 70- year-old gardener, Tadgh Corbett, his 27-year-old daughter, Elaine Corbett, and Ms Corbett’s 29-year-old boyfriend, Declan Finn, contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

Judge Marie Keane recommended that Mr Howard receive appropriate medical treatment after a request from his solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick.