Man in court on charges relating to serious incident in Mayo town centre

A man has appeared at a special sitting of the District Court in Castlebar on charges including the production of a knife in the course of a dispute and the theft of almost €700.

The charges against Matusz Batiuk, with an address at Tone House, Tone Street, Ballina, arise from incidents at Market Square in the town on Wednesday after the accused allegedly barricaded himself in a house.

Evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning Batiuk was given by Sergeant Pat McCann and Garda Alan McGrath of Ballina Garda Station.

Sergeant McCann told presiding Judge Fiona Lydon that when he arrested the accused at 18.04 p.m. on Thursday he made no reply to a number of the charges.

But on the charge of stealing €699.71 he replied: “Not guilty. I took the money because they owe me money."

Cathy McDarby, solicitor, who represented the accused, said there was no application for bail.

Ms. McDarby applied for legal aid on the basis that the accused is on social welfare and is a suitable applicant.

The accused was remanded in custody to October 6 to appear before Harristown (Castlerea Court) via videolink.

At the request of Ms McDarby, Judge Lydon recommended that the accused receive appropriate medical and psychiatric assessment while in prison.

The charges before the court involve Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, Section 4 of the Criminal (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, and Section 9 (I) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.