FACEBOOK and other forms of SMS text contact has landed an Eastern European man in custody after bail in a criminal damage matter was revoked at Limerick District Court last week.
The court was told he made contact with the alleged injured party when warned to refrain from doing so.
37-year old Antonas Varnagis, with an address at Nicholas Street, was granted bail on February 15 last, and “before the ink was dry on the bail conditions,” according to Judge O’Donnell, he was told that Varnagis breached the conditions and made contact with the woman connected to the proceedings via the social media network, Facebook, as well as two SMS text messages and one phone call, the following morning.
Judge O’Donnell heard from Garda Cathal O’Gorman that the injured party received two text messages after 9pm on February 15 last, and a phone call after 8am on February 16.
Gardai subsequently obtained a bench warrant for the arrest of Antonas Varnagis as he was in breach of his bail conditions.
The court heard that on January 7 last, Varnagis was convicted of an assault and criminal damage matter before the court – he was also ordered by the court to stay away from the injured party.
He received a custodial sentence for the offence.
On January 15, the court heard that Varnagis was said to have threatened the injured party at her place of work and caused damage worth €2,000 to her car.
Upon his arrest and subsequent interview, gardai said that the accused made certain admissions and that the injured party was in fear for herself and for her child.
A file is with the DPP as to the matter from January 15, where it will be alleged that the accused man was “jumping on the roof” of the car owned by the woman in question.
Muiris Gavin, solicitor, told the court that bail was granted on Tuesday week last and after “obtaining a job”, his client made contact with the woman to suggest he was now “working and could pay her back”. He made contact in Russian via text and facebook.
Varnagis was granted bail in the matter and the same day made contact with the woman despite “the stern warnings of the court,” according to the District Court Judge.
The case was not due back before the court until March 22 next, but on revoking bail and remanding the accused man in custody, Judge O’Donnell ordered that the man appear via video link on March 4 next.
