Man appears in court charged with assault and traffic offences

Italian restaurant owner Antonio Mureddu appeared in court on Monday in connection with assault and two counts of dangerous driving in Co Clare.

At Letterkenny District Court Sgt Mark Murphy of Ennis Garda Station gave details of the arrest, charge and caution of Mureddu who has an address at Headford Arms, Headford, Co Galway.

The charges were put back to March 4th at Ennis District Court.

Garda Sgt Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided the case could be heard on indictment meaning it will go to the circuit court where it will be heard before a judge and jury.

Mureddu was previously charged at Letterkenny District Court with having no insurance, using a fraudulent license plate and failing to give information to gardaí at Meencarragh, Ballybofey on October 23rd last year. These charges were put back to June 5th.

Judge Alan Mitchell had earlier asked Mureddu why he was not wearing a mask and he handed a letter of exemption to court officials.

Another man with him left the courtroom when asked by the judge why he was not wearing a facemask.

Gardaí said they had no objection to bail.

Judge Mitchell asked Mureddu if he had any legal representation and he replied “I have a right to be silent”.

However, when Mureddu was told to sign his bail bond in his own sum of €300 he wrote on the bail bond claiming he was under duress. He also fixed a two cent stamp to the bond.

Judge Mitchell told Mureddu that he only needed his signature and if he did not simply put his signature on the new sheet he would be sent to prison for seven days.

Mureddu agreed and signed the bond.