BAIL FOR MAN ACCUSED OF CAUSING ‘LIFE LASTING’ HARM TO GARDA IN TRAFFIC STOP
A FORKLIFT driver accused of causing permanent and “life-long lasting deformities” to a Garda’s finger following a traffic stop has been granted €1,500 bail.
Gardai responded to a call about a driving incident at Gulliver’s Retail Park, Ballymun, Dublin at about 11:30 am on Saturday.
Mercedes driver Daniel Quinn (32), of Farnham Drive, Finglas, Dublin, was arrested and charged.
He was held pending his appearance before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court yesterday.
He is accused of assault causing harm to the officer and theft of two cans of the Red Bull soft drink worth €6 from a shop.
He was also charged with dangerous driving, criminal damage to a roadside steel bollard allegedly hit by the defendant’s Mercedes, and a garda station cell door and blanket with urine.
The wounded officer was taken to James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
Mr Quinn applied for bail, which was opposed by investigating officer Garda Sergeant Aidan Monaghan.
Photos A MAN is due in court this morning charged in connection with the fatal attack on pensioner Matthew Healy in hospital.
Mr Healy (89) died at Mercy University Hospital in Cork on Sunday after he was beaten with a walking frame in the ward in which he was staying.
Another man was arrested at the scene and is due before Cork District Court this morning.
Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for a security audit of all health facilities after the widower’s death.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “We have been offering our union’s full support to members in the Mercy and will continue to do so.
“In light of this awful incident, the INMO is once again repeating our call for a full review and audit of security systems and protocols in Irish hospitals. We haven’t had a security audit of our hospitals since 2016.”
The incident during which the pensioner lost his life occurred in a sixbed general ward at about 5.30am.
The Armed Support Unit arrived at the scene and arrested a male patient. It is understood neither the patient nor Mr Healy were known to each other prior to hospitalisation.
Mr Healy was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem was carried out on the deceased by Assistant
The sergeant later described the injuries as permanent and said their full extent was unknown.
The court heard other gardai witnessed the incident, and there was CCTV evidence.
It was alleged that the accused hit a bollard and failed a roadside drug drive test which had results for cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepine. Sgt Monaghan conceded that if the court granted bail, he would seek conditions.
Defence solicitor Tracy Horan argued that the threshold had not been reached to deny bail, and she said the State was on “shaky ground” while her client had the presumption of innocence.
Judge Kelly granted bail in the defendant’s bond of €500, of which €300 must be lodged.
Furthermore, she sought a €1,000 independent surety.
The assault offence can carry a maximum five-year term, but the court heard that further charges could be brought.
Judge Kelly remanded Quinn in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court tomorrow.