Teen in court over Westport garda stabbing
A teenage boy appeared in court today in connection with the stabbing of a garda in Westport in Co. Mayo, in the early hours of Sunday morning last.
The boy, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, was brought handcuffed before a sitting of Mullingar District Court, where he was charged with assault causing harm to Garda Daryl Mullen at James Street, in Westport.
Garda Sergeant Patrick Lavelle of Westport station told Judge Conal Gibbons that the boy, with an address in Co. Mayo, was arrested at 1.04pm on Sunday. The teen replied “No” after he was charged.
The slightly built boy, who has short mousey brown hair and was dressed in a black hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms and runners, remained silent during his brief court appearance.
Inspector Kieran Keyes told Judge Gibbons that he was making an application for the boy to be held in custody pending an appearance at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
Judge Gibbons consented and remanded the boy in custody to St Patrick’s Institution, the juvenile section of the Mountjoy Prison.
Judge Gibbons also acceded to a request from defence solicitor James Hanley to grant legal aid to the teenager, who was accompanied to his case by an adult woman.
Garda Mullen, from Tuam in Co. Galway, was left in a stable but serious condition after receiving a single knife wound.
The 32-year-old member of the divisional drugs unit in Co. Mayo was on duty on James Street in Westport at about 1am on Sunday last when he was stabbed in the stomach.
He was taken to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar for emergency surgery and has since been in intensive care.
