WHY DID DAD WHO TRIED TO KILL KIDS GET BAIL?
Attacker had been free for past two years
A FATHER who has admitted trying to strangle his four young children to death was on bail for two years following the incident. Stephen Harnett, 37, attempted to strangle his two girls, aged seven and three, and only left them when he thought they were dead. During the assault in June 2016, Harnett then moved on to his two sons aged nine and 11.
The boys bravely fought back, fleeing through a window. The eldest son, the Central Criminal Court heard, fought the hardest and managed to escape with his
younger brother and raise the alarm when their father became exhausted in the struggle. Yesterday, Judge Michael White said he is ‘strongly of the view’ that Harnett should not be on bail and remanded him in custody. This came after the attacker had been free to walk the streets for the previous two years.
The court heard that following the shocking attack, one of the young girls was unconscious when paramedics arrived, and was taken to hospital by air ambulance. Two of the other children were purple in the face and one had bulging eyes.
It was reported at the time that a week earlier the family had celebrated one of the children’s First Communion with a gathering of family and friends. The children have since recovered and are now in the care of their mother.
Harnett has been out on bail for the last two years despite facing attempted murder charges. The court heard he was ordered not to come within four miles of where his children live as part of his strict bail conditions, but that there had been ‘accidental contact’ with his expartner on one occasion in Wicklow while he was on bail.
Yesterday, the judge refused a bail request, saying the man had admitted four attempted murder charges ‘of the most serious nature’.
The assaults took place on June 3, 2016. Harnett, of Kilpoole Upper, Blainroe, Wicklow, was remanded in custody following the brief hearing.
Speaking on Harnett’s behalf, Patrick Gageby SC said his client has a history of depression which may diminish his responsibility for the offence, but is not at a level for him to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. Counsel said a psychiatrist is meeting with Harnett to put together a report and asked the judge to grant bail to allow the psychiatrist to continue his work.
He said it is more difficult to get psychiatric reports completed when a person is in custody. Mr Gageby also said his client had been on bail under strict conditions for two years and that there had been no breach of those conditions. However, Judge White, having heard evidence from Detective Sergeant Fergus O’Brien about the assaults on each child, refused bail. A sentencing hearing will take place on October 8.
Tearful members of Harnett’s family lined up to hug him before he was led away by prison officers.