A father accused of attacking his partner so that she could not breathe threatened to post personal information on social media “to ruin her reputation” among family and friends, it is alleged.
The man, in his early 50s, a non-national residing in Dublin with his family, was arrested on Friday night.
His name cannot be revealed due to reporting restrictions in the Domestic Violence Act.
He appeared before Judge William Aylmer at Dublin District Court on Saturday.
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The man was granted bail set at €1,000, with a requirement to lodge €300 before his release, which is subject to various conditions.
Garda Maeve O’Hehir informed the court that the man made no reply when charged with assaulting his long-term partner, who is the mother of his children, and breaking a domestic violence order. He was arrested following a “stand-off” at their north Dublin home, but denies the allegations.
The garda objected to him being granted bail due to serious concerns for the alleged injured party, who did not attend the hearing. The arresting officer asserted that the man was a flight risk who had suggested planning to return to his home country “as soon as he got out of court”.
The garda agreed with defence solicitor Julianne Hayden that her client had no previous convictions. The man, who works full time, was granted free legal aid.
The officer cited the strength of the evidence and the possibility of further charges.
Outlining the evidence, the garda stated the man had opened the front door when she and a colleague arrived. After a stand-off, she went into the bedroom to speak to his partner, while her colleague waited in another room with the accused.
Garda O’Hehir reported that the woman told her the accused “threatened to publish personal information on social media back in their home country to ruin her reputation with her family and friends”.
It was also alleged he held her against a wall, pushed her onto a bed and pulled the covers over her head, due to which she could not breathe.
The contested bail hearing was told that abuse ended when another family member entered and pulled him off the woman.
The defence solicitor pleaded for bail and pointed out that her client disputed this version of events, would hand over his passport, and would move in with another relative.
The judge held that while the garda had established grounds to object to bail, he was satisfied the grounds were not such that it was necessary to refuse the defence application.
He remanded the man in custody with consent to bail to appear again next week.
The judge set his bond at €1,000 but stipulated that the defendant must lodge €300 before being released.
He must also notify gardaí beforehand of where he will reside so they can confirm he can stay at that address.
He will also have to hand over his passport and not apply for alternative travel documents; he must stay away from the alleged injured party, and sign on three days a week at his local Garda station.
The man did not give evidence at the hearing and spoke only at the outset of the proceedings to ask for legal representation, which was afforded to him.
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