This article is from page 12 of the 2008-08-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
STAFF at Dunnes Stores are “terri- fied” of a man accused of theft and assault, a Garda Inspector said in an application to have the accused re- manded in custody.
Michael Maughan (34) with ad- dresses at 18 Beechwood, Clarecas- tle, and 20 Stone Court, Ennis, was before Ennis District Court yester- day charged with theft from Dunnes Stores and with assualting a member of Dunnes Stores staff.
Inspector Tom Kennedy asked Judge Leo Malone to remand the man in custody as he was not in a po-
sition to go ahead with the charges.
‘“He’s in court today and he’s intox- icated. It’s alleged he assaulted one member of Dunnes Stores staff and confronted another. They are terri- fied of him.”
Maughan asked to take the stand to prove he was not intoxicated, but Garda James Nicholls, who had to re- move him from the court a short time previously, said there was a strong smell of alchohol from the accused.
His solicitor, Tara Godfrey said it was “obvious he has a bad drink problem. There are other matters to come before the court on September 5 and I would ask that he be allowed
to keep an appointment which he has at Bushy Park this week to undergo a residential course of treatment for his problem. At this stage what he is facing are allegations.”
Inspector Kennedy said he was concerned that Maughan had first come before the court on theft charg- es “and this time it has escalated to assault charges.”
Judge Malone remanded Maughan in custody until August 18.