De Rossa son 'fit to stand trial'

A son of Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa, who is charged with assaulting his father, is fit to stand trial, a judge was told today.

Fearghal De Rossa (aged 45) from Old Finglas Road, Dublin is in custody on remand and was transferred to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in November to undergo treatment and assessments.

He has been accused of attacking his 71-year-old father, who earlier this week announced that he intended to step down as MEP for Dublin next month.

Fearghal De Rossa has been charged under section three of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act for assault causing harm to the former Government minister on November 11, in Dublin.

The DPP has directed that the case would proceed on indictment which means he is to be sent forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

At an earlier stage, a judge had been told that there were issues in relation to his fitness to plead.

Mr De Rossa appeared again at Cloverhill District Court today.

Defence counsel Mark Lynam told Judge Ann Watkin that his client had been seen by an expert earlier this week at the CMH.

He said that there is “no issue” in relation to Mr De Rossa being able to stand trial and his fitness to plead.

No bail application was made and Mr De Rossa was further remanded in custody to appear again on February 1 next, pending preparation of a book evidence by the prosecution.

At an earlier hearing, the court had heard that Garda objections to bail would be based on the seriousness of the allegation, “an assault where a family member was injured”.

The defendant was of no fixed abode, the court had also been told during a previous hearing.

The maximum sentence on conviction for assault causing harm at Circuit Court level is a five-year prison term.