Details of alleged Newbridge assault which left woman in 'coma' given in court
The case was heard at Naas District Court
A man who allegedly kicked and punched a woman into a coma in Newbridge in December has been refused bail a third time, meaning he will now spend a first month in custody before he next sees a judge. Cian Leavy, Carraigmount House, Caragh, Naas was appearing in Naas District Court for a second time from custody since his arrest on 13 December to hear if the DPP had ruled on jurisdiction.
Mr Leavy (22) is charged with assault causing harm to the woman in a laneway at the rear of Bradbury’s Café on 3 December.
At his last appearance two weeks previously, prosecuting garda Sergeant Mary Meade outlined the allegations.
“Judge, he dragged (named victim) down a flight of stairs in Bradbury’s, kicked her in the head, knelt on her chest and punched her in the face,” she said.
This week, her colleague Sgt Dave Hanrahan expanded on the circumstances. “She was not found for eight hours until a delivery driver came, and she was taken to hospital,” he said.
“She was badly unconscious, a coma basically,” he added.
“He allegedly left her there in a bad way?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.
“Yes, judge,” said Sgt Hanrahan.
“She could’ve lost her life. Was it unprovoked?” asked the judge, and again the sergeant nodded.
“That’s why I want a psychiatric report,” said the judge.
On the last occasion it was learned the injured party was out of the coma, and the reason the DPP had not yet ruled on jurisdiction was that Sgt Meade was: “still waiting for medical reports”.
At his first appearance on 13 December, the court heard how Mr Leavy had been originally arrested the previous Friday (6 December) under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, but subsequently released and admitted to hospital.
On his discharge from hospital yesterday, he presented at Kildare Garda Station by appointment with his solicitor and made a cautioned voluntary statement.
At his last appearance (23 January), his solicitor Tim Kennelly claimed “she was selling him drugs … (and) there may have been a liaison between them”, but this week was more able to outline his client’s position, having visited Leavy in Cloverhill in the interim.
“Judge, they wanted to purchase street Xanax together, he went and purchased the Xanax and they went drinking together all day. There is CCTV evidence,” he asserted.
“How old is the injured party?” asked the judge.
“She’s 24,” said Sgt Hanrahan.
“When you interviewed him, did he say anything about what Mr Kennelly just said in court?” asked the judge.
“He said he had no memory,” said the sergeant.
“He gave an account of his actions up until he couldn’t remember,” clarified Mr Kennelly.
Judge Zaidan then remanded Mr Leavy back into custody until 20 February and ordered he undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
“I will see you on Saturday, Cian,” Mr Kennelly assured his client on the videolink from Cloverhill
