A man charged with the false imprisonment of three people at Sixmilebridge last month has been granted bail.
This followed father of Limerick footballer, John Galvin Jnr, John Galvin Snr agreeing to making a cash lodgement to the court of €10,000 to secure Tom Howard’s release from custody.
Mr Howard (50) of Gortnaminch, Listowel, Co Kerry is facing charges in relation to a two and a half hour stand-off where he is alleged to have falsely imprisoned a father, daughter and her boyfriend at Donnybrook Cottage, Sixmilebridge on July 2nd.
Earlier in court yesterday, solicitor for Mr Howard, Stíofán Fitzpatrick told Judge Marie Keane at the holiday sitting of Ennis District Court that there was a new independent surety in place for Mr Howard and everything was in order.
As a result, Judge Patrick Durcan – who had already heard extensive evidence in the bail application – broke up his holiday and travelled from his Mayo home to hear the resumed bail application yesterday late afternoon in Ennis.
After Mr Galvin Snr agreed to provide the bail monies, Judge Durcan said that it was obvious that the Galvin family hold Mr Howard in high regard.
Mr Howard – who works as a labourer on the Galvin farm – has been in custody since July 2nd and the Galvin family have continued to pay Mr Howard his wages since.
In court last Friday, Judge Durcan adjourned Mr Howard’s bail application after branding the circumstances around John Galvin Jnr providing an independent surety of €10,000 for Mr Howard as “a set up job”.
John Galvin Jnr – widely regarded as Limerick’s best Gaelic footballer of modern times – was to provide an independent surety for his friend, Mr Howard.
However, at last Friday’s hearing, Mr Galvin Jnr admitted in evidence that some of the €10,000 surety was coming from Mr Howard’s long term partner.
In response, Judge Durcan said: “This is a set up. Mr Galvin (Jnr) is being produced as an independent surety who doesn’t have the money for it”.
He said: “Someone is being presented as someone of substance to offer an independent surety, but there is no substance there. It is a set-up job – stitched up.”
In response, Mr Fitzpatrick said: “I don’t agree with that Judge. With due respect, there is no intention for it to be a set-up.”
In reply, Judge Durcan said: “There is nothing independent about Mr Galvin if something goes wrong with bail, Mr Galvin isn’t at a loss.”
He said: “I am very annoyed that the court has been put into this position.”
Judge Durcan later told Mr Fitzpatrick in court that he accepted that there was no attempt to mislead the court on the issue of the independent surety.
Mr Howard works on the Galvin family farm in west Limerick and in evidence last month, Mr Galvin Jnr told the court that Mr Howard “is the nicest man you could ever meet” and “wouldn’t do any harm to anyone”.
In the case, Mr Howard is charged with falsely imprisoning 70-year old gardener, Tadgh Corbett, his 27 year old daughter, Elaine Corbett and her 29 year old boyfriend, Declan Finn contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
Mr Howard is also charged with having a shot-gun in his possession with intent to cause an indictable offence – robbery – contrary to Section 27B of the Firearms Act 1964.
Prior to the court exchange over the independent surety, Insp Tom Kennedy said that Gardai no longer had objection to bail following his psychiatric assessment and various bail conditions agreed with Mr Howard.
Yesterday, Judge Durcan remanded Mr Howard in custody with consent to bail and he will be released from prison as soon as the cash lodgement has been made.
