ASSAULT CHARGE | 

Man (21) accused of ‘violently’ punching garda after crashing car into a wall

Today at 08:22

A jobless man accused of “violently” punching a garda, leaving him with concussion and cuts to his head and arms moments after crashing his car into a wall, has appeared in court in Westmeath.

Bonvie Endefi (21), Ardleigh Park, Mullingar appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with assaulting Garda Gary Power, causing him harm, at 4 Greenpark Vale, Mullingar, Co Westmeath on July 17, 2023.

Sgt Timothy Browne told the court that when he arrested and charged Endefi shortly before 2pm on Thursday, Endefi replied after caution: “I didn’t assault anyone.”

Giving evidence of the incident to determine jurisdiction, Sgt Browne said the accused had moments earlier lost control of his car by crashing into a garden wall.

Sgt Browne said as Endefi attempted to flee the scene on foot, he struck out at Garda Power during the course of his arrest.

“Garda Power managed to arrest the suspect who resisted violently and punched Garda Power on the head,” he said, adding how Endefi had also attempted to “kick out” at the officer as he was being restrained.

Endefi was also charged with dangerous driving on the same date.

Judge Bernadette Owens accepted jurisdiction in relation to the Section 3 assault charge, allowing the case to be heard at District Court level.

Defence solicitor Louis Kiernan applied for legal aid on behalf of Endefi after it was revealed the accused had not been in employment for “some time”.

Judge Owens granted that request and remanded Endefi on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on June 13.