A MAN who is alleged to have kneed the heavily pregnant mother of his unborn twins repeatedly in the stomach has been granted bail at Wexford District Court, enabling the couple to marry this Friday.
Nicholas Hunter (28), The Grange, Ferns, Co Wexford, appeared before Wexford District Court yesterday facing a number of charges arising out of an incident on September 27th, where he is alleged to have assaulted his partner, Erica James.
Arising out of the same incident on the main street in Ferns, Mr Hunter is also charged with causing a breach of the peace; failing to produce a registration cert when demanded of him and remaining in the country after the date set for his departure (July 11th last).
The court heard that the defendant and his partner were from Jamaica.
Garda Annette Healy told Judge Donnchadh Ó Buachalla that despite Mr Hunter having been remanded in custody for a week in the lead-up to his wedding, there was still ambiguity surrounding his status in Ireland.
Garda Healy said Mr Hunter is “technically illegal”, but he was due to marry Ms James in Wexford on Friday.
Garda Healy added that since Mr Hunter appeared before him a week earlier, a protection order has also been taken out in relation to his relationship with Ms James.
Conor Brady, for Mr Hunter, said his understanding was that the assault charge would be dropped.
However, Garda Healy said there was “nothing definite” in that regard.
“It’s a possibility?” asked Mr Brady. “Yes,” replied Garda Healy.
Mr Hunter was granted bail on his own bond of €800 until December 2nd, 2009.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport.
Last week Judge Ó Buachalla heard that Mr Hunter and Ms James had a “volatile” relationship.
The judge heard that following a heated row in their Ferns home on September 27th, Ms James followed Mr Hunter on to the street where it is alleged that he kneed her in the stomach repeatedly and hit her about the head.
Garda Healy said two off-duty gardaí based in Dublin witnessed the incident when they went to see what was happening after hearing screams.
Mr Hunter told the court that he “blacked out and slapped her”.