Man who escaped Limerick courthouse refused bail to attend daughter’s birthday and christening

A MAN who escaped custody from a toilet at a courthouse in County Limerick said he "panicked and ran". 22-year-old Niall...

A MAN who escaped custody from a toilet at a courthouse in County Limerick said he “panicked and ran”.

22-year-old Niall Whelan who is originally from the O’Malley Park area of Limerick City was refused bail at Limerick District Court when he applied for liberty to attend his daughter’s birthday and christening on Friday and Saturday this week.

Mr Whelan was before Newcastle West District Court on Tuesday of this week charged in connection with an assault of a man in Cappamore last month.

While waiting for his case to be called, he asked to use the bathroom in the courthouse and escaped, Limerick District Court heard.

He was arrested by Gardaí in O’Malley Park later that day and subsequently charged with unlawfully escaping Garda custody and brought to Bruff Garda Station.

Sergeant Aisling O’Neill said that Gardaí were objecting to Mr Whelan being given bail.

Taking the stand on his own behalf, Mr Whelan admitted he had fled the court in Newcastle West on Tuesday. He told Judge Patricia Harney “I just panicked and I ran”.

Pleading to be admitted to bail, he told the judge that he wants to attend his daughter’s birthday celebrations and christening later this week.

“They are two very important dates in our lives and I would like to be there,” he said.

Outlining details of the original assault charge, Garda Bojan Klaric told Judge Harney that it will be alleged that on August 11 of this year, the accused met and the victim went drinking at Arthur’s Quay Park in Limerick City.

Garda Klaric said that the two later went to a house in Cappamore where “all parties consumed drugs”.

Giving evidence in relation to the alleged assault, the Garda witness told the court that the victim suffered a broken jaw and wrist along with other injuries.

Garda Klaric told the court that Mr Whelan is before the court on charges of assault and unlawful escape from custody, both of which carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Objecting to the accused man’s application for bail, he said he would “not be satisfied that Mr Whelan would abide by any bail conditions”.

Gardaí were objecting on grounds of the seriousness of the charges, the possible penalties on conviction and concerns that the accused would not come to court to answer the matter, the court heard.

Cross examining Garda Kleric, Tom Kiely, solicitor for the accused, asked whether he agreed that the alleged victim was one of a number of people who had consumed drugs on the night of the alleged assault. Garda Kleric agreed.

Mr Kiely also outlined that should Mr Whelan be granted bail, he would have two possible addresses where he could reside, either with his mother or partner and daughter.

Judge Harney said that considering all of the evidence, the court would refuse bail and further remand Mr Whelan in custody until September 29.