File sent to DPP over serious Mullingar assault that left young father fighting for life

A teenage trainee electrician accused of leaving a young father fighting for life in hospital following an alleged assault in Mullingar in December is expected to learn next month whether he will face any further charges.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, has been on bail since appearing at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on December 19 last.

That hearing arose out of an incident five days earlier at Grove Street which resulted in his alleged victim being taken to the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar with serious head injuries. He was subsequently transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, and had surgery to have a catheter inserted in his head to relieve pressure on his brain.

The teenager presented himself at Mullingar Garda Station later that same afternoon ahead of his arrest and where a section 3 assault causing harm charge was issued against him four days later.

During a contested bail hearing, the court heard how it will be the state case that an altercation involving a group of youths and the injured man, much of which was captured on CCTV, took place shortly after 1am.

The encounter, it was contended, proceeded out of shot for approximately eight seconds, which was when the injuries sustained by the man were allegedly inflicted.

The state had objected on grounds connected to both the nature and strength of the prosecution case as well as fears over the possible interference of witnesses.

The state alleged that the accused deleted two voice messages which were sent to witnesses in the wake of the alleged assault.

Both of those were relayed in court, and in the first, sent just before 2am, the accused allegedly told an associate: ‘I’m after clocking a fella and he didn’t wake up for over half an hour, pure para (noid)’.

The second, Judge Owens was told, had also been sent via the teenager’s Snapchat to a different recipient, stated: ‘I’m not sure if I killed the fella or not, but even if I didn’t kill him, it’s bad bro’.

The teenager’s defence counsel had countered that the state’s objections and fears he may commit further offences were, at best “vague” and argued that conditions would more than satisfy any anxieties the court would have over the accused adhering to bail.

That argument satisfied Judge Owens, who granted bail subject to a lengthy list of conditions including twice weekly signing on and curfew orders.

The state applied for an adjournment when it returned before Mullingar District Court today (Thursday February 6) and the court was told directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were not yet available.

No update was given on the condition of the injured man.

Judge Owens was told a file had gone to the DPP and directions would likely ready in six weeks.

The accused was remanded on continuing bail to Mullingar District Court on March 20.