Two people, who appeared at Cavan District Court this afternoon charged in connection with a serious assault in Monaghan town on Tuesday, have been denied bail. A third accused was remanded in custody with consent to bail once an independent surety of €2,500 is provided.
Stephen Maughan (23), The Boulevard, Mounteustace, Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15; Jason Maughan (25), Mullaghmatt, Monaghan; and Molly Roberts (21), Lakeview, Enagh, Co Monaghan, appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan charged with assaulting Declan Wallace and causing him harm at Park Road, Mullaghmonaghan, Co Monaghan, on January 14th, 2024.
During this afternoon’s hearing the State objected to bail for all three defendants over concerns around them leaving the jurisdiction, that “more serious charges are likely” once a medical report is received and CCTV evidence of the alleged assault.
Sgt Ciara Hayes told the judge that the footage showed Stephen and Jason Maughan exiting a car and approaching the injured party. Jason Maughan could be seen administering two blows with a steel baseball bat to the head and elbow of the victim who is in an induced coma at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital. The court heard that none of the defendants have previous convictions.
“They left the scene and left Mr Wallace helpless,” said Sgt Hayes before adding the trio returned afterwards to the address of the brothers’ parents.
“Jason then hid the bat in the back garden before leaving the jurisdiction. Ms Roberts did call an ambulance.”
The court heard there had been a verbal argument between Stephen and Jason Maughan and Mr Wallace earlier in the day. Stephen also had a wooden bat but the court was told that “both weapons have now been recovered”.
In mitigation for the Maughan brothers, defence counsel Sara Brennan asked Sgt Hayes to explain further why there were concerns about her clients leaving the jurisdiction. She said that while their family lived in Co Monaghan, they had ties to Northern Ireland because their father is from there.
“In relation to them fleeing, they did leave but came back the following morning and handed themselves into gardaí, isn’t that correct?” asked counsel.
Sgt Hayes replied “yes” before counsel took the opportunity to highlight to the court that neither of her clients was of financial means, making their risk of fleeing even less when put into context. “They have no way of establishing themselves in Northern Ireland, isn’t that right Sergeant?”
“Yes,” she confirmed.
Ms Brennan went on to say that her clients had made admissions, been highly co-operative with investigating gardaí and that both weapons associated with the case had been recovered.
“They come to court with clean records and as a result are untested before the courts because they don’t have previous convictions,” she continued. “Therefore they are entitled to the presumption of liberty.”
Following his deliberations the judge denied bail to both defendants. He said he was concerned about them being a flight risk because “they have already left the jurisdiction”. He remanded them in custody to appear via video link at Monaghan District Court on Monday, January 20th.
The judge said Ms Roberts deserved to be treated “somewhat differently” to her co-accused.
She was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Monaghan District Court on Monday, January 20th.
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