'He has bluffed us before' — Corkman accused of putting his mother in fear denied bail

Judge Olann Kelleher remanded the defendant in custody for a week. File picture: Larry Cummins

A garda sergeant objecting to bail being granted to a man accused of putting his mother in fear claimed at an in-camera court hearing: “He has bluffed us, he has lied to us before.” 

Judge Olann Kelleher said after hearing the young man’s application for bail and the prosecution evidence, including the testimony of the man’s mother, that he was refusing bail and remanding him in custody for a week.

Judge Kelleher said at Cork District Court: “His mother is absolutely petrified of him. This man has promised the world before.” He was remanded in custody on the charge of breaching a safety order by putting his mother in fear.

Garda Ken O’Brien testified that the complainant’s son was not welcome at her home and she had a safety order against him.

She contacted the gardaí to say that he was banging on the front and back door of her home trying to get in. By the time the gardaí arrived they located the accused in the back garden of the house.

The defendant’s mother testified in relation to her son: “I asked him not to come back. I don’t want him in the house anymore.” She said her fear was that if he got bail he would come back up to the house and frighten her.

The young man said of his mother’s evidence: “I totally understand, from the bottom of my heart.” He said he would stay away and was welcome to stay with his girlfriend in another county. It was confirmed by gardaí that he was welcome to move in with her.

“I will never set foot in my mother’s,” the defendant said.

Judge Kelleher said: “You told me that about 10 times before.” The young man said: “But I have somewhere to stay. I have a loving partner. She is pregnant. We are together five months.

“I have money in my pocket, I really don’t want to go back to jail. Please, from the bottom of my heart, give me this chance.” 

Sergeant John Kelleher said: “He has bluffed us, he has lied to us before.”