Limerick man told gardai 'I am going to bite the faces off ye' before allegedly biting garda

Frances Watkins, 27 Mar

A 32 year old man allegedly told gardai 'I am going to bite the faces

off you’ before allegedly biting an Ennis-based garda on the hand.

At Ennis District Court, Limerick native, Jeffrey Kelly of Laurel

Lodge, Ennis has appeared in connection with the alleged assault

causing harm of Garda Michael O’Neill on March 5th on Ennis's Kilrush

Rd.

As part of a bail hearing, Garda Darren Earley told the court that Mr

Kelly was intoxicated at the time and during the course of arrest in

the early hours of March 5th resisted arrest outside an address at Cnoc

na Scoile on Ennis’s Kilrush Rd.

Garda Earley stated that Mr Kelly “'threatened gardai by stating 'I am

going to bite the faces off you’”.

He said that Mr Kelly was then placed in the garda van.

Garda Earley said that “Mr Kelly resisted further by spitting at gardai

and then bit Garda Michael O’Neill on the hand, breaking the skin and

drawing blood”.

Garda Earley stated that there were two garda witnesses to the alleged

assault.

Garda Earley stated that gardai were objecting to bail due to the

nature and seriousness of the charge.

Garda Earley said that Mr Kelly made no admissions.

Solicitor for Mr Kelly, Tara Godfrey said that her client has told her

that he has not been drinking or taking drugs since last October.

Ms Godfrey said that on the night, Mr Kelly knocked on the wrong door.

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out

Ms Godfrey said that her instructions from her client is that Mr Kelly

did not bite Garda O’Neill on the finger or anywhere else.

Judge Gabbett refused bail to Mr Kelly. Garda O'Neill was not in court

for the bail hearing and Judge Gabbett said that he was probably off

getting a tetanus injection in hospital.

Mr Kelly has also failed to obtain bail in the High Court.

Mr Kelly has been further remanded in custody and is due to re-appear

via video-link at Ennis District Court next Wednesday, April 3rd for

DPP directions.