Man charged in rare coercive control case
ALLEGATION THAT 56-YEAROLD THREATENED TO KILL EX-WIFE IN 2019
A 56-year-old Mid Cork man has appeared in court and been charged with threatening to kill his ex-wife after he was arrested by gardai investigating complaints of coercive control against him.
Cormac O’Sullivan, a native of New Street, Macroom, was arrested at his home at Caretaker’s Cottage, Rathclaren House, Kilbrittain in West Cork last Friday by gardai, backed up by members of the Armed Support Unit.
The arrest and search under warrant of Mr O’Sullivan’s house was carried out by both uniform and detective officers from Macroom Garda Station as well as officers from the Cork West Division Protective Services Unit.
Mr O’Sullivan was brought to Bandon Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardai detain suspects for up to 24 hours before they have to be charged or released.
He was later brought before a special sitting of Bandon District Court on Saturday afternoon where he was charged with an offence contrary to Section 5 of the Non Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997.
He was charged that on August 29, 2019, at Forest Oaks, Forest, Coachford, Co Cork, he threatened Paula O’Sullivan that he would kill her, intending her to believe that the threat would be carried out to kill or cause her serious harm.
Garda Carmel Nash of Macroom Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Mr O’Sullivan made no reply to the charge when it was put to him after caution.
Insp Aidan Moynihan said gardai had no objection to Mr O’Sullivan being remanded on bail subject to conditions and Mr O’Sullivan’s solicitor, Jenny Fitzgibbon said her client was willing to abide by all conditions being sought.
Insp Moynihan said that gardai were still awaiting DPP directions but he believed that the matter was likely to be dealt with on indictment
at circuit court level before a judge and jury and he applied for an adjournment.
Judge John King granted the application and remanded Mr O’Sullivan on bail on his own bond of €500 to appear again at Macroom District Court on July 15th for the DPP’ s directions on the matter.
He made it a condition of Mr O’Sullivan’s bail that he reside at the Caretaker’s Cottage, Rathclaren House, Kilbrittain and that he sign on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at
Bandon Garda Station.
He also made it a condition of Mr O’Sullivan’s bail that he abide by a 9pm to 9am curfew at the Kilbrittain address and that he gives gardai at Bandon Garda Station 24 hours notice of any change of address.
And he also made it a condition of Mr O’Sullivan’s bail that he would undertake not to apply for a new passport and that he would have no contact, directly or indirectly, with any of the witnesses in the case.