Andrew Carey
A COUNTY Limerick man has been charged with assault causing harm and producing a knife during the course of a dispute after a young woman suffered a severe stab wound to her leg last weekend.
Objecting to bail being granted to Michael Harty, (25) of Lismakeera, Askeaton, Garda Sergeant Niall Flood told Newcastle West district court that the incident is believed to have originated from an ongoing feud between different factions of the Harty Family in Askeaton.
He said that a 20-year-old woman required hospitalisation after the incident in a local housing estate. After photographs of the injuries were produced in court, Sgt Flood added: “It appears she was held down and required surgery to deal with the injury”.
The victim was cut with a knife from her groin to her knee. Other stab marks were also shown to the side of her groin.
In the aftermath of the knife attack, two caravans were burnt out in the Churchview area of the town. It is understood that they were owned by relatives of the victim.
During the bail hearing, the court heard evidence that Gardaí fear an escalation of events in Askeaton. A strong Garda presence was evident in the town on Monday and it is understood that a number of other incidents went unreported.
Sgt Flood said Gardaí believed that what began as an initial dispute between two women quickly escalated into a physical altercation.
It is alleged that Michael Harty arrived at the scene of the initial dispute armed with a knife and inflicted the injuries on the young woman who named him as the person responsible for inflicting the injuries.
Sgt Flood told the court that Gardaí fear that if he was released on bail “he will attempt to interfere with the alleged injured party and potential witnesses, many of whom have yet to be interviewed”. There were large numbers associated with both sides of the alleged dispute and a number of children witnessed the incident.
Defence solicitor Michael O’Donnell said his client denied the allegations and maintained that he was trying to break up the dispute between the two young women. His client was not a flight risk and this was accepted by Sgt Flood.
Citing Garda concerns of possible interference with witnesses as there were a large number of relatives living “within a stone’s throw of each other”, Judge Mary Larkin refused bail and remanded the defendant in custody until next Tuesday.
