Gardaí face race against time to ready case against man accused of assault in pub brawl

Sunday World

16-05-2025

The court was told it will be alleged at that stage the accused hit the man a 'number of times' to the head with his fist.
Justin Curran was remanded on bail to reappear at a sitting of Longford District Court on September 2.
Gardaí are facing a race against time to ready its case against a man in his 30s who stands accused of punching another man a 'number of times' to the head during a late night assault outside a pub in a midlands town.
Judge Bernadette Owens declined to accept jurisdiction, a legal term referring to whether a case should remain in the District Court after Justin Curran (32) Bracklin Road, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court over an alleged incident at Main Street, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on August 4, 2024.
Sgt Mark Mahon, for the prosecution, said it will be the State's case that the alleged injured party presented himself at a local garda station the following day to make a statement of complaint.
Justin Curran outside Longford Courthouse.
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He said on foot of those allegations CCTV was sourced, footage of which showed a number of people at the scene and where 'some verbals' were exchanged.
The court was told it will be alleged at that stage the accused hit the man a 'number of times' to the head with his fist.
Sgt Mahon was keen to stress, however, that at no stage was a weapon produced or used in the incident.
Mr Curran's solicitor Fiona Baxter said the defence harboured reservations linked to the absence of medical evidence, in addition to the absence of the alleged injured party in court.
'It raises concerns for the court,' she said.
Sgt Mahon replied, saying the hearing before the court was for jurisdiction purposes only in order to decide whether the case should remain in the District Court or be sent forward to its higher Circuit Court equivalent.
He also maintained the alleged victim was not required to be present unless otherwise requested.
Ms Baxter reiterated her stance over concerns that surrounded the unavailability of a medical report.
Judge Bernadette Owens, at that stage, interjected to state the issue of jurisdiction was one only she could adjudicate on with or without the aforementioned report.
Sgt Mahon, in addressing that anomaly, revealed the State's attempts to procure medical records dated back some six months.
In making her determination, Judge Owens said from photographs handed into court, it appeared an injury was evident within 'close proximity' to the alleged injured party's eye.
She said on foot of that, the court needed to satisfy itself there was no significant injury or long term sequelae exacted as a consequence of the alleged assault.
Judge Owens remanded Mr Curran on bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on September 2 while marking the case peremptory against the State.