A 32-year old man has appeared in court charged with a meat cleaver assault that left his alleged victim with a fractured skull and a 20 stitch laceration to the head.
At Kilrush District Court, Patrick Kolodziej of Coor East, Doonogan is facing three separate charges in relation to the alleged cleaver and knife attack on Marcin Jeziorny and setting fire to the home the two men shared near Miltown Malbay near Clare’s Atlantic coast last Sunday.
Det Garda Donal Corkey told the court that it will be alleged that the home was housing a cannabis grow factory after Gardai found 150 cannabis plants in the attic of the home on Sunday.
Det Corkery said that Mr Jeziorny sustained a fractured skull and lacerations to the head and face in an assault “very serious in scale”.
The detective said the Gardai will be alleging that Polish national Mr Kolodziej used the meat cleaver and the knife to stab Mr Jeziorny.
He said that the victim in the case – also a Pole and known to the accused – sustained one laceration to the head requiring 20 stitches with a further laceration to the face requiring between five and 10 stitches.
Mr Jeziorny was transferred by ambulance to Ennis where he was then brought by helicopter to Galway University Hospital.
Mr Kolodziej is charged with assault causing harm to Mr Jeziorny at Coor East, Doonogan on Sunday and producing a meat cleaver and a kitchen knife capable of inflicting serious injury during the course of the alleged assault.
The charge states that the meat cleaver is 12 inches in length with a blade that was 8.5 inches long and 4 inches wide while the kitchen knife was 10.5 inches long with a 6 inch blade.
Det Corkery said that further charges are anticipated in relation to the drugs find and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has indicated that there is a possibility that the Section 3 assault charge will be upgraded to the more serious Section 4 assault – that of assault causing serious harm.
Those convicted of Section 3 assault causing harm assaults face a maximum sentence of five years on conviction while a Section 4 assault carries a prison term up to life for those convicted of such an offence.
Det Corkery today objected to bail on the grounds of the serious nature of the offences that Mr Kolodziej is charged with; the nature and strength of the evidence in support of the charge and if was granted bail, the accused would not turn up for trial.
Providing background, Det Corkery said that last Sunday, Mr Jeziorny presented himself to Miltown Malbay medical centre “with serious injuries”.
Det Corkery said that along with the head wounds, Mr Jeziorny had a large laceration to his foot and a laceration to his hand. Det Corkery told the court that he has photos of Mr Jeziorny’s injuries.
He said that the accused was residing with the alleged victim.
He said on arrival at the men’s home at Coor East, Gardai met with members of the local fire service who were extinguishing a fire at the house.
He added that the fire service removed Mr Kolodziej from the house in an alert condition.
He added: “I believe that the accused is a real flight risk. He is a Polish national. He has no ties to this jurisdiction. He is unemployed and has no means of financial support.”
Det Corkery said that because of the house being set alight, Mr Kolodziej is of no fixed abode.
He said that the accused was residing at the house for 14 months and has been living here in Ireland for four years.
He said that during the four years prior to last Sunday, Mr Kolodziej has not come to the attention of Gardai.
In response, Judge Patrick Durcan said that he would be refusing the application for bail on the basis of the seriousness of the offence and the nature and strength of the evidence.
Judge Durcan remanded Mr Kolodziej in custody to re-appear before Ennis District Court today.
