Ireland Case No. 20219Coercive control; sexual assault; false imprisonment; assault causing harm; criminal damage · Co. Clare
Man remanded in custody after failing to attend coercive control trial in Ennis
A 49-year-old Co Clare man is accused of coercive control, sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage against his ex-wife, with the alleged conduct taking place between 1 January and 15 May 2019. He pleaded not guilty to 22 counts, and a jury was impanelled at Ennis Circuit Court on 11 July 2023 for the county's first coercive control trial. He did not attend court to hear his ex-wife give evidence, and the jury was discharged on the fourth day. Judge Francis Comerford refused him bail after Garda objections and remanded him in custody to 28 July to fix a trial date.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court25 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 49-year-old Co Clare man is accused of coercive control, sexual assault, false imprisonment, assault causing harm and criminal damage against his ex-wife.
- Where
- The trial was held at Ennis Circuit Court and was the county's first coercive control trial.
- When
- The alleged conduct took place between 1 January 2019 and 15 May 2019.
- Charges
- He pleaded not guilty to 22 counts and is contesting 12 sexual assault, six false imprisonment, two assault causing harm, one criminal damage and one coercive control count.
- In court
- A jury was impanelled on 11 July 2023 and the trial opened, with the chief State witness due to give evidence the following day.
- He did not attend court to hear his ex-wife give evidence, and Judge Francis Comerford discharged the jury on the fourth day of the case.
- Judge Comerford refused him bail after Garda objections and remanded him in custody to 28 July to fix a trial date.
- Other details
- He voluntarily admitted himself to a psychiatric unit while on bail, making himself unavailable to the court.
- The defence said he has no previous convictions and no history of bench warrants.
- Investigation
- Gardaí executed a bench warrant for his arrest after he left a psychiatric unit; one source says he came to Ennis courthouse by arrangement.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 49-year-old Co Clare man failed to attend court to hear his ex-wife give evidence at the county's first coercive control trial. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe trial was held at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe alleged conduct took place between 1 January 2019 and 15 May 2019. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí executed a bench warrant for the accused's arrest after he left a psychiatric unit and came to Ennis courthouse by arrangement. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to 22 counts including coercive control, sexual assault and false imprisonment against his ex-wife. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe accused is contesting 12 counts of sexual assault, six counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault causing harm, one count of criminal damage and the coercive control charge. (clareecho.ie)
- courtA jury was impanelled on 11 July and the trial opened, with the chief State witness due to give evidence the following day. (clareecho.ie)
- courtJudge Comerford discharged the jury on the fourth day of the case. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded in custody to 28 July to fix a trial date. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe accused voluntarily admitted himself to a psychiatric unit while on bail, making himself unavailable to the court. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe defence said the accused has no previous convictions and no history of bench warrants. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Jul2023Judge remands coercive control accused in custody after trial no-show - Clare Echo
Reports the accused's bail refusal and remand in custody after the trial was abandoned, and sets out the 22 counts and their breakdown.
accused, 49, malevictim, female