Castlebar man tells Mayo court it is 'impossible' to get into a treatment centre

A CASTLEBAR man who was remanded in custody after he was unable to take up his bail told a judge it was 'impossible' to get into a treatment centre.

Eamon Maughan Junior with an address at 21 Castlegrove, Castlebar appeared before Castlebar District Court where he was sent forward for trial to Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court in June where he will face charges of arson and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

The court heard that Mr Maughan has been in custody for five months as he has been unable to take up bail conditions set down by the district court and later by the High Court. As part of the bail conditions, Mr Maughan has to reside outside Castlebar and also attend a rehabilitation centre to deal with his addiction issues.

His solicitor Gary Mulchrone said Mr Maughan remains in custody as he is unable to gain entry into a rehabilitation centre and asked Judge Vincent Deane to vary the bail conditions.

Mr Maughan pleaded with Judge Deane to vary the conditions saying he has been in custody for five months 'for something I didn't do' and claimed it was impossible to get into a treatment centre due to the charges he is facing.

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“My hands are tied,” he said to which Judge Deane replied 'literally' in reference to the handcuffs he was wearing. Mr Maughan said he would agree to stay out of certain parts of Castlebar if the bail could be varied.

Judge Deane was told that gardaí had objected to Mr Maughan residing in Castlebar and they would object to any variation of the bail to allow him to reside there.

He said as the case had now been sent forward to the circuit court he would only fix bail if Mr Maughan met the conditions of the High Court or the district court. He added that when the matter goes to the circuit court, Mr Maughan can raise the issue of bail there.

Earlier, Garda Evan Joyce said he served Mr Maughan with the book of evidence and Court Presenter, Sergeant Conor McShane applied for the defendant to be returned for trial to the next sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Deane consented to the request and remanded Mr Maughan in custody with consent to bail to appear before the next sittings of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on June 29 next.