Six people appear in court charged with assault in Áras Attracta

Six people appear in court charged with assault in Áras Attracta

Anton McNulty

A 62-year-old woman faces five charges of assault arising from a Garda investigation following the Prime Time undercover documentary at the Áras Attracta care home in Swinford.
Joan Gill (62) of 35 Dublin Road, Swinford, faces a total of five charges of assault, alleged to have all taken place in Bungalow Three of Áras Attracta on three dates between November 6 and November 17.
Ms Gill and five other defendants appeared before this morning’s (Friday) sitting of Ballina District Court, where they all face assault charges alleged to have occurred in Bungalow Three. The five defendants other than Ms Gill each face a single assault charge.
Christina Delaney (35) of Secfinn, Lissatava, Hollymount, Joan Walsh (42) of Carrowilkeen, Curry, Co Sligo and Kathleen King (56) of Knockshanvally, Straide, Foxford are all charged with assault alleged to have occurred on November 15, 2014.
Pat McLoughlin (56) of Lalibela, Mayfield, Claremorris, and Anna Ywunong Botsimbo (34) of 8 Low Park Avenue, Charlestown, are both charged with assault alleged to have occured on November 14.
Mr Vincent Deane, state solicitor told the brief hearing that the disclosure of evidence includes a large amount of film footage, and it has yet to be presented to the defendants.
Mr Paul Cunney, solicitor for Ms Gill, confirmed that they had yet to receive statements and Judge Mary Devins ordered that the disclosure of statements be forwarded to Mr Cunney. She adjourned the case for mention to the July 10 sitting of Ballina District Court to fix a date for hearing. She said that Ms Gill must also be in court on that date.
Judge Devins also adjourned the cases involving the remaining defendants to July 10 in order for the statements to be disclosed to them and to fix a date for hearing.