A man charged in connection with a stabbing incident in Ballyshannon that left a man in intensive care has appeared in court.
Stephen Fitzpatrick was brought before a special sitting of Sligo District Court on last night – and claimed he acted in self defence.
In granting bail to Fitzpatrick, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham imposed strict conditions.
A 58-year-old with an address in Ballyshannon, Fitzpatrick was charged with assaulting Daniel Fox-Orton and causing him harm on January 31, 2025. The charge is contrary to section 3 (1) and 3 (2) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 as amended by section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2023.
Detective Garda Shane Maye of Ballyshannon Garda Station gave evidence of the arrest charge and caution of Fitzpatrick at Ballyshannon Garda Station.
Detective Garda Maye told the court that when charged, at 6.46pm, Fitzpatrick replied: “Nothing only that he attempted to kill me and I defended myself.”
Detective Garda Maye said gardai were objecting to bail due to the seriousness of the offence, the admissions made by Fitzpatrick at the scene and during interview and the possibility of further charges being added.
The court heard that the injured party was alleged to have entered Fitzpatrick’s bedroom “roaring” before he grabbed the accused man.
Fitzpatrick was alleged to have got hold of a Leatherman multi tool and stabbed the injured man “multiple times” to the chest, upper body and neck. The weapon has been seized by gardai.
Detective Garda Maye said that while investigating officers have obtained Fitzpatrick’s version of events, they have not yet been able to speak to the injured party due to his condition in hospital.
Detective Garda Maye informed the court that the injured party underwent surgery on Friday and is in a stable condition in the intensive care unit of Sligo University Hospital.
Solicitor for Fitzpatrick, Mr Rory O’Brien, applied for bail on behalf of his client.
“This was a classic case of self defence,” Mr O’Brien said. “I find it astonishing that there is an objection to bail. I am not trying to minimise the fact that someone is seriously injured here, but this man (Fitzpatrick) is a victim.”
Judge Cunningham said the court did not accept a suggestion by Mr O’Brien that his client “is being prosecuted because he didn’t die”.
After considering the matter, Judge Cunningham said that she deemed the charge to be a serious one.
However, on the basis that there was no evidence to suggest that Fitzpatrick is a flight risk and that he has no previous convictions or bench warrant history she said bail could be granted with strict conditions.
Fitzpatrick was granted bail in his own bond of €500, nil cash. He was ordered to sign on four times a week at Ballyshannon Garda Station, to have no contact in any way whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, including through social media, with any witnesses or the alleged injured party. Fitzpatrick was ordered to surrender any travel documents and to undertake not to apply for a new one.
Fitzpatrick undertook to commit no further offence and be otherwise of good behaviour. He must reside at an address which was agreed as suitable by gardai and must be contactable 24-7 on a phone number supplied to the authorities.
Legal aid was granted to Mr O’Brien and the matter was adjourned to Ballyshannon District Court.