A man who allegedly breached a barring order 17 times has appeared in court charged with a serious assault and false imprisonment of a woman.
The man, who is aged in his 30s, appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Ballyshannon District Court. The accused man, who is in custody in Castlerea Prison, was brought to court by prison officers.
The man, who cannot be named at this point owing to legal reasons, is charged with an assault causing harm in that he did strangle the woman by placing his hands around her neck, restricting her breathing.
He is also charged with the false imprisonment of the woman and with making a threat to kill or cause her serious harm.
Sergeant Deirdre Durcan gave evidence of charging the man. He made no reply after two of the charges were put to him.
After the other, he asked Sergeant Durcan: “Am I not charged with these charges already.”
Solicitor Mr Frank Murphy asked the court if these matters represented the totality of charges for the man. Inspector Rosaleen Logue said that there are matters which are still pending with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In a statement to gardai, the woman told how the man “lost control” and “completely freaked out” before choking and punching her.
She alleged that the man took her car keys and mobile phone and tried to drag her to a car. In the car, he is alleged to have hit her head off the steering wheel and made threats.
The terrified woman told gardai that the man was so angry she felt he was capable of killing her.
The man has been accused of multiple breaches of a barring order that is in place.
Among the alleged breaches are that, on one day, he tried to ring the woman 24 times. Another day, he is alleged to have rang her 18 times and 14 times on another.
He is also accused of attempting to make contact with the woman via text message, email and Snapchat.
All of those alleged breaches are said to have occurred within a three-week period earlier this year,
Mr Murphy told the court that the man has been in custody for two months now.
Judge Murphy said she had to be cognisant of an order that was in place under the domestic violence act and that the man was on bail while there were 17 alleged breaches of that order.
Judge Murphy said she was satisfied to refuse jurisdiction in the case, but added that the man has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Mr Murphy said he was reserving his position with regard to a fresh bail application for the man.
The accused was remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court on September 27.