A 28-year old Ennis man charged with assaulting, ill treating and neglecting his three and a half month old baby daughter at several locations across Ennis town centre last month has failed to secure bail in the High Court.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, the man appeared via video link from prison concerning the alleged offence which took place over a four hour period on Friday 10th April and Saturday 11th April.
In the case, the man is charged with willfully assaulting, ill-treating and neglecting his three and a half month old daughter in a manner likely to cause un-necessary suffering and injury to the baby’s health and seriously affect her well being.
The man is accused of the offence at several locations across Ennis over a four hour period from shortly after 10pm on Friday, April 10th to shortly after 2am, Saturday, April 11th.
The alleged assault, ill-treatment and neglect of the baby is alleged to have occurred at six locations across Ennis – Station Rd, O’Connell Street, Carmody Street, Mill Rd, Wood Quay and The Market.
Members of the Garda Armed Response Unit along with trained negotiators were called in to defuse the situation and the man was arrested and the baby was returned into the arms of her mother shortly after 2am on the Saturday morning.
The child assault/ill-treatment charge is contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act 2001 and if the case goes before the circuit court, a judge can impose a prison term up to seven years in jail if the man is convicted of the offence.
The man is also charged with the assault causing harm of his partner and the child’s mother on Friday, April 10th at an address in Ennis prior to the alleged assault of the baby.
In court on Wednesday, solicitor for the accused, Daragh Hassett said that his client has been refused bail in the district court and has been refused bail in the High Court as well.
Sgt Louis Moloney stated that directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are awaited in the case and asked that the case be further adjourned for two weeks.
Mr Hassett stated that this remand application was on consent and stated that he suspects that the charge would go forward by way of indictment to the circuit court.
Judge Patrick Durcan remanded the accused in custody to re-appear before the court on May 20th.
