Bail hearing for Longford pair charged in connection with brutal double stabbing

A father and son charged in connection with a violent double stabbing in Longford last month appeared in court on Tuesday and were remanded in custody with consent to bail on strict conditions and once large independent sureties are paid.

Patrick Nugent (37)and Lewis Nugent (18), both of Athlone Road, Longford appeared in Longford District Court charged with four offences each.

The violent incident occurred in Teffia Park and two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, sustained significant injuries at around 9pm on February 9.

The two injured men were both rushed to Mullingar General Hospital.

Patrick Nugent has been charged with violent disorder, assault causing harm, production of article, namely a stick, during the course of a fight at Teffia Park, Longford on Monday, February 9 and affray on Main Street.

His son Lewis Nugent has been charged with violent disorder, assault causing harm, production of article, namely pepper spray, during the course of a fight at Teffia Park, Longford on Monday, February 9 and affray on Main Street.

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The pair both applied for bail with Patrick Nugent remanded in custody with consent to bail once independent surety of €6,000 is paid and strict bail conditions are abided by and Lewis Nugent released on bail after an independent surety of €2,000 was paid.

Detective Garda Damian McGowan gave evidence that Patrick Nugent was arrested at 3.17pm at Longford Garda Station and later charged at 4.16pm.

The court heard he made no reply after he was cautioned and the charges were put to him.

Det Garda McGowan played CCTV footage where he alleged Patrick Nugent was the only one of four men caught on camera prior to the attack at Teffia Park with nothing covering his face.

He said he had known Mr Nugent since he was a child and for 23 years and he was satisfied it was him.

Det McGowan also played a callout video that appeared online where he claimed Patrick Nugent had his face covered but he said based on his voice, his gait and the way he carries his left harm he believed it was the accused.

Detective Garda Orla Geraghty also said she could identify Patrick Nugent clearly from the CCTV footage and she had known him for almost 20 years and both detectives said they were satisfied another individual in the video was Lewis Nugent.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, addressed Judge Bernadette Owens and made the case to remand Patrick Nugent in custody.

"There is two senior detectives here who can identify Patrick Nugent and they have known him for almost 40 years between them," he added.

The court heard investigators also believed Lewis Nugent was one of the four men captured on CCTV prior to the Teffia Park incident.

Judge Owens heard Lewis Nugent was also charged at Longford Garda Station and he made no reply when he was cautioned and the four charges were put to him.

Sgt Mahon said the State were objecting to bail based on the seriousness of the charges and a concern that further offences could be committed.

Footage of the alleged attack was played in court and graphic photos of the injuries suffered by the more seriously injured of the two men who was left on Battery Road were submitted to the court.

Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn, defending, described the CCTV footage as being "grainy and not particularly reliable" during his cross-examination of Det McGowan.

"I couldn't make out anybody in that let alone Patrick Nugent," he added.

Mr Quinn suggested it was not of sufficient quality to stand up in court during a trial and Det McGowan said he was satisfied it was him but he acknowledged it may be difficult.

Judge Owens noted the defendant had made no admissions and he was not clearly identifiable on the CCTV and she decided it would be 'disproportionate' to remand him in custody until a trial.

She decided to further remanded Patrick Nugent in custody with consent to bail if an independent surety of €6,000 is paid to the court and strict bail conditions are followed.

The two detectives also said they believed Lewis Nugent was one of the four men captured on CCTV.

However, solicitor John Anderson said there was 'nothing clear to identify my client Lewis Nugent in that footage'.

Judge Bernadette Owens said she was not satisfied that the State has met the threshold under the O'Callaghan rules and she accepted a relative as an independent surety.

"Lewis Nugent doesn't have any bench warrant history and the only evidence that the State are relying on for the purposes of the O'Callaghan objection is that Det Garda Geraghty thinks he was in this callout video.

"That for me is not sufficient," she added.

Judge Owens noted Lewis Nugent had no convictions whilst on bail and he had no previous convictions for any similar charges.
"There is an issue with the identification in Teffia Park", she added.

She decided she was granting Lewis Nugent bail on his own bond of €500 and with an independent surety of €2,000 with a lodgement of €2,000.

Judge Owens imposed strict conditions on both defendants that included abiding by a curfew between 10pm and 6am, no contact directly or indirectly with the injured parties, stay off social media and agreeing not to apply for passports.

She also directed both men to stay away from Main Street, apart from a 90-minute period when collecting their social welfare, Teffia Park, Garvey's Lane and Garvey's Close and to remain intoxicant free.

Judge Owens remanded Patrick Nugent in custody with consent to bail until March 10 and the case against Lewis Nugent was adjourned until April 21 for direction with liberty to reenter.

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