No bail for Cork man accused of ramming ex-partner's car into her house

The court heard that 'upwards of €40,000 worth of damage was caused'

The judge said the accused man was talking about wanting to go into treatment for alcohol addiction but she said that he should have gone about that before he went into custody. File picture: Larry Cummins

Two cars were rammed by a drunken man and one of them was shunted a distance of over five metres into the front of his ex-partner’s house causing a total of over €40,000 damage, a garda claimed as she objected to bail, citing the risk to the community.

Judge Monica Leech decided after hearing the application by the 46-year-old at an in camera hearing of Cork District Court that bail should be refused on Friday.

“I am satisfied that if released on bail he would create a significant risk to the community. I am refusing bail,” Judge Leech said.

The judge said the accused man was talking about wanting to go into treatment for alcohol addiction but she said that he should have gone about that before he went into custody.

“He has put the cart before the horse and is tugging on the heartstrings of the court,” Judge Leech said.

The accused was remanded in custody until May 14 on charges of breaching a safety order and three counts of causing criminal damage, to his ex-partner’s home and to her car and to the car belonging to his ex-partner’s mother.

Stephen Cotter, solicitor, said the defendant lives over 40kms away from the location where the alleged incident occurred and that he would not go near her home again if granted bail.

The accused said: “I am very sorry. I love (partner’s name). I would never hurt her. I don’t know why I did it. I am so embarrassed by my actions. I would never ever touch (partner’s name) or my kids.” 

Sergeant John Dineen said the main grounds of the objection to bail were the seriousness of the allegations and the fears of the ex-partner of being at risk.

Case summary

Garda Laura Doolan outlined details of the alleged incident in her objection to bail: “It relates to an incident that occurred at 5.20pm on April 23 at her home. The defendant allegedly drove his own vehicle into the vehicle of his ex-partner and the vehicle of his ex-mother-in-law.

“He was observed doing so on multiple occasions. This alleged ramming was with such force that one of the cars which was stationary at the time, moved 5-6 meters, colliding with the home causing significant structural damage.

“Both injured parties were inside the home at the time. Both identified the defendant, as being the driver of the car at the time of the incident. His ex-partner recorded a portion of it. The defendant is clearly identifiable in the mobile phone footage. 

"It is currently estimated that upwards of €40,000 worth of damage was caused.” 

The judge considered photographic evidence of the scene in the course of the bail application where the accused appeared in Cork District Court by video link from prison.