Teenager accused of slashing tyres remanded in custody

AN ENNISCORTHY teenager accused of slashing tyres appeared by video link at Wexford District Court on Friday and was further remanded in custody on consent to Gorey District Court on June 11.

Bail had been refused at an earlier court sitting after Judge Brian O’Shea heard that the defendant had allegedly threatened to stab a neighbour.

At the earlier court sitting, Jamie Carolan’s address was given as 91 Gimont Avenue in Enniscorthy and it was there that he was arrested on May 23. However, the District Court was told by solicitor Lana Doherty that the 18-yearold had lived most of his life in nearby Father Murphy Park.

The arresting garda, Keith Arnold, told how he apprehended Mr Carolan attempting to jump over the back fence of the house in Gimont.

It was alleged that four tyres were slashed on the vehicle of Marion Delaney who was called to give evidence as the granting of bail was considered.

Her version of events was that she was in her kitchen when she heard the defendant shouting. She recalled that he was calling for Alan to come out and saying that he was going to stab Alan to death.

She told the court that, when she spoke to him, he said that when he was finished stabbing Alan, he was going to stab Ms Delaney.

She informed Judge Brian O’Shea that she had looked after the accused youth’s sister, who used to go out with her son before he went to Australia.

She said she would not feel safe if the accused were allowed out of custody.

Ms Doherty reminded the witness that Mr Carolan’s mother had died two years previously.

After this, she continued, the late woman’s daughter became lease holder on the family home at Father Murphy Close.

This arrangement ceased when the daughter left Enniscorthy for the UK and the defendant had been staying since with his uncle in Gimont Avenue.

The solicitor suggested that her client had come through a turbulent time.

The court was told that the defendant’s aunt, Suzanne Bernie, wanted to support her nephew and was prepared to let him live with her at Forrestalstown in Clonroche.

The court also heard that Mr Carolan had been prescribed Prozac for depression. Before that, he had been taking D5s (diazepam) to help himself sleep and relax.

Judge O’Shea responded that there was clear evidence that the complainant in the case was petrified.

A remand in custody was ordered to May 29 and when the defendant appeared before the court via video link last Friday, he was further remanded to Gorey court sitting in Wexford on June 11.

Catriona Walsh, solicitor, acting as agent for Ms Doherty, said there was a consent to a remand in custody.