45-year-old man charged with assaulting father who was found dead in Waterford

John Cashman (45) arriving to Carrick-on-Suir District Court on Wednesday. Photo: James Treacy

A 45 year old man has been charged with assault causing harm to his father who was found dead at his home in Waterford on Monday evening.

Emergency services were called to the farm of John Cashman Snr (73) at Rockfield House, Cappagh about 6km northwest of Dungarvan on Monday evening. The pensioner was found injured and unresponsive. A local doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.

John Cashman Jnr, who lives in an apartment on the family farm in Rockfield, appeared before a sitting of Carrick on Suir District Court in Co Tipperary this afternoon charged with assault causing harm to his father.

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Det Garda Martin Keohane of Dungarvan Garda Station. He said he arrested John Cashman Jr at 6.10pm on Tuesday and that he made no reply when the charge was put to him after caution at 9.18pm.

Gardai lodged an objection to bail. Det Gda Keohane told the court that further serious charges could follow. The results of the postmortem examination on the deceased are awaited. The garda also spoke of the gravity of the alleged offence.

He expressed concern about possible witness intimidation. He added that he feared that the accused could opt to leave the jurisdiction if granted bail.

Defence solicitor Eamonn Hayes made a bail application. He said his client was willing to abide by stringent bail applications.

Mr Hayes said that Mr Cashman Jnr called both gardaí and the emergency services to the farm on Monday night.

The court heard that he told gardaí he acted in self defence having been confronted by his father. He denied kicking his father in the head while he was on the ground.

The accused also went in to the witness box and gave an undertaking that he would comply with bail conditions set down by the court.

He said he was willing to surrender his passport and would not apply for further travel documents. Mr Cashman Jnr also gave an undertaking not to have any contact with any alleged witness in the case.

He said he moved back to the family farm from the UK in 2021 and set up a very successful business restoring vintage farm machinery.  He said he had not spoken to his father for years. Since his return to Ireland he has paid rent on his apartment on the farm to his mother.

Judge John O’Leary was told by the defence that Gillian Cashman, the mother of the accused, was willing to provide surety in the case. She is also prepared to have him reside in his apartment at the farm.

She also told the judge that her son was a man of integrity. She expressed her full confidence that he would comply with any bail conditions imposed by the court.

Judge John O’Leary declined to grant bail in the case. Mr Cashman Jnr was remanded in custody to appear before Clonmel District Court on April 21.

The deceased was a well known farmer who ran as an Independent candidate for Waterford County Council several years ago.