JUDGE REFUSES JURISDICTION IN ALLEGED ASSAULT CASE
A man accused of assault causing harm to his girlfriend’s mother was arrested near the scene allegedly carrying a machete, Bray District Court heard last week.
On November 24, Dylan Coster (25), 12 Fairgreen Court, Bray, called to a house in Cois Cairn at 7.55 p.m. to see his girlfriend, the court heard.
Judge David Kennedy was considering jursdiction in the case.
Sgt Roisin Daly said that an argument ensued and he began assaulting her, it is alleged. Coster’s girlfriend has not made a complaint and they are still together.
Her mother, attempted to intervene, the court heard, and push the defendant out of the house.
‘He punched her in the arms and head and made threats to kill her and her family and left the scene,’ said Sgt Daly.
‘He sent a message that he was on the way with a machete.’
Gardai answering a call to the house then saw him on Old Connaught Road carrying a machete. Sgt Daly said that they arrested Coster.
Barrister Eoin Gallgher said that it was a horrendous incident. ‘He is probably very lucky he was stopped,’ said Mr Gallagher.
‘His girlfriend is still his girlfriend and hasn’t made a statement regarding threats to kill, which if they were made, were made to her.’
Mr Gallagher asked the court in considering jurisdiction to consider the fact that they are still in a relationship, although he hasn’t gone near the estate or her mother.
‘Two months in custody already has had a salient effect on him,’ said Mr Gallagher.
Coster had numerous other cases before the court, and wanted to ‘clear the decks’, said Mr Gallagher.
He was attending treatment but left during Covid as he would not have been allowed to see his children.
Judge David Kennedy refused jurisdiction, ‘taking into account the totality of the story as told by Sgt Daly’.
The matter was sent forward to the October sitting of Wicklow Circuit Court, sitting in Trim.
Coster was also facing charges of having no insurance on the N11 at Kilmac on December 17, 2018; no insurance, NCT or tax at Killarney Road on November 26, 2018; no insurance on Dublin Road, Bray, on March 13, 2018; possession of cannabis to the value of €80 at Circle K in Bray on January 5, 2019, and no insurance at Lower Dargle Road on June 8, 2020.
‘Very little can be said in his favour in these matters,’ said Mr Gallagher. ‘It’s a mix of carelessness and, he would say himself, stupidity. He has spent too much time before court and should know better.’
Mr Coster said that his client understands that he has to deal with his issues. His partner was in court to support him.
He was imprisoned for six months for one of the no insurance charges, with the other road traffic matters taken into consideration.
He received a 10 month suspended sentence for possession of drugs. Bail conditions in the adjourned matter include staying way from the alleged injured party and her house.