Trial of man accused of falsely imprisoning girlfriend at Clare home to be given 'priority'

Staff at University Hospital Limerick have informed a senior garda that it is “100% likely” that a patient report relating to the alleged victim in a false imprisonment and assault causing harm case will be ready for court this Tuesday.

At Ennis Circuit Court this Monday, Detective Sergeant Kevin O’Hagan said he had been informed that patient reports can be up to 50 pages long in the case of patients who have been admitted for two weeks.

Last week, Judge Francis Comerford granted an adjournment in the case of Mark Hayes who is charged with the false imprisonment of his then girlfriend at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon on March 17 last contrary to Section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences against the Person Act.

Judge Comerford granted the adjournment after he was informed the patient report was not yet available to the court.

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Mr Hayes, aged 35, of Aidan Park, Shannon is also charged with the assault causing harm of the same woman at the same Shannon address contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He is also accused of threatening to kill the alleged injured party on the same date.

Detective Sergeant O’Hagan said the complainant in the case was released from hospital on March 28, last - 11 days after the alleged incident.

At a procedural hearing, counsel for the State Sarah Jane Comerford BL, instructed by State Solicitor Aisling Casey, said: “We are hopeful that the report will be before the court on Tuesday and the court can see that all efforts have been made and are being made to obtain the report.”

Ms Comerford said that the State hopes to proceed with the trial on Tuesday.

Judge Comerford noted this and he indicated that he will give the case priority.