Man accused in Tralee stabbing is refused bail at Limerick Court

36-year-old Declan Galvin charged with assault causing harm after knife attack

A MAN who allegedly stabbed another man a number of times in broad daylight in an “unprovoked attack” in Tralee last week, has been refused bail.

The accused, Declan Galvin, (36), with an address at Killeen Wood, Tralee, was refused bail at Limerick District Court, last Wednesday.

Mr Galvin appeared in court, charged with assault causing harm to a man in his 50s, at Moyderwell, Tralee, on August 28 last.

He was also charged with production of a steak knife during the course of the alleged assault.

Detective Garda John Gilmartin, Tralee Garda Station, said Mr Galvin replied after caution to the two charges: “I regret what I did, man. It was a moment of madness”, and, “Guilty. I did it. I was drunk and I wasn’t in a good place in my head.”

Objecting to bail, Det Gilmartin said the accused and the victim were not known to one another, and that the stabbing was “unprovoked”.

“It will be alleged that during the course of an unprovoked attack that (the accused) took a steak knife from his back pack and stabbed the injured party a number of times,” Detective Gilmartin told the court.

He said the victim sustained a stab wound to a lung, and he was still being treated for his injuries in hospital.

Detective Gilmartin said the Section 3 assault causing harm charge “may be upgraded” to a charge of assault causing serious harm, contrary to Section 4 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

The stabbing occurred on a “busy road” in front of several eyewitnesses, between the front entrance of Kerry County Library and a local school, he said.

During a bail application, Det Gilmartin said that a bloodstained jumper, and a knife, had been recovered by gardai as part of the ongoing investigation.

He said he had “serious concerns” that, if granted bail, Mr Galvin would “carry out further unprovoked attacks”.

He described the stabbing as “a violent attack”. Defence solicitor, Padraig O’Connell, said the accused had worked in the hospitality sector for a number of years. “He is paying rent and has a room in a house,” he added.

Mr O’Connell requested that his client be psychologically evaluated.

Judge Marie Keane directed that Mr Galvin be referred for a psychological assessment, and that a report be made available at the accused’s next court appearance.

She refused bail, and remanded Mr Galvin in custody to appear before Tralee District Court this Wednesday, September 6.