Man accused of assaulting woman during burglary in Dublin appears in court

ireland
Man Accused Of Assaulting Woman During Burglary In Dublin Appears In Court
Matthias Kelly, 41, appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday and was denied bail after being charged with assault causing harm to the complainant.
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Tom Tuite

A man has been accused of "butchering" a woman, repeatedly stabbing her in the neck and head and stomping on her, during a "frenzied" attack in her north Dublin home.

Matthias Kelly, 41, appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday and was denied bail after being charged with assault causing harm to the complainant, who is in her 30s, production of a kitchen knife with a six-inch serrated blade, and burglary of her house at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17, in the early hours of Saturday.

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He has an additional charge for criminally damaging the sitting room and front bedroom windows at his ex-partner's and her children's home at Millbrook Avenue in Coolock on the previous evening.

Judge John Brennan heard that Mr Kelly, who has no fixed abode in Coolock, Dublin, "made no reply" when charged.

Detective Donal Bolger told the court, "There was blood everywhere" during the second incident, and he objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case.

He told a contested bail hearing that "the injured party was lying in blood, covered in blood, it was like a murder scene".

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According to the detective, it was alleged the accused first went to his ex-partner's home shortly before 5 pm on Friday and "smashed" the windows.

At around 12.15 am on Saturday, at the second location, he allegedly gained entry "and picked up a large serrated knife from the kitchen".

The woman at that house knew him, and the court heard she woke up to find him in her bedroom standing over her.

It was claimed he stabbed her multiple times to her head and neck while telling her, "You're dead, you're dead".

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Judge Brennan heard that she fought back, kicking him in the groin area, and the knife fell to the floor.

However, it was alleged he repeatedly stomped on her head as she tried to crawl away.

The court heard she had injuries to her chin, neck, shoulder and black eyes. She was treated at Beaumont Hospital before she discharged herself and went home but discovered three further wounds to the back of her head while removing hair extensions, and she was readmitted to the hospital.

Detective Garda Bolger said the man was arrested at a house where he had been staying in Coolock.

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The court heard his clothes were bloodstained, and he was taken to Coolock Garda station, interviewed four times and had DNA samples taken from him.

The judge was told gardaí gathered CCTV evidence from the area. A mobile phone allegedly belonging to the defendant was seized and examined.

It was said to have contained a text message from the accused to another male, saying, "I'm after a butchering your one; I'm going to be locked up".

The court also heard claims that six days beforehand, another WhatsApp message from his phone was sent to the woman, saying, "I'm going to cut your throat".

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The detective garda anticipated "further, more serious charges" against the accused once a file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He also had witness intimidation fears and said that lodgers were at the house at the time.

He agreed with defence solicitor David Bassett that the accused was cooperative and had the presumption of innocence.

The defence argued that hearsay evidence had been given because the witness was not in court; however, the detective said the woman had been through a traumatising incident.

Posing questions about the extent of the injuries, the defence solicitor presented the court with a photo allegedly taken of her after the incident.

Detective Garda Bolger replied that he had seen the woman, and her hair was "completely matted in blood".

Mr Kelly, who has yet to indicate a plea, did not address the court.

The solicitor said that his client had no warrant history or record of offences on bail and would obey conditions and stay out of Dublin.

The court heard he had suffered a head injury and was on medication.

Judge Brennan held that bail conditions would not address the detective's concerns; he denied Mr Kelly bail and remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

Legal aid was granted.

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