Ballina man remanded in custody following supermarket stand off

A Ballina man who was arrested following a stand off with gardaí in a Ballina supermarket on Wednesday night has been remanded in custody.

Mateusz Batiuk (34) of 7 Tone Street, Ballina appeared before a special sitting of Castlebar District Court this afternoon charged with four offences arising from the incident in the Taste the World supermarket on Market Square, Ballina on Wednesday evening, September 27.

The court heard he is charged with possession of a knife; possession of a knife in the course of a dispute; theft of €699.71 from Taste of World and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm.

Mr Batiuk was arrested on Wednesday night following a stand off at the Taste the Word supermarket involving members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit.

Sergeant Pat McCann told Judge Fiona Lydon that on Thursday, September 28 he arrested Mr Batiuk and at 8.21pm and charged him with three offences.

When charged with the theft offence, he replied “I took the money cos they owe me money now.”

He made no reply to the other two charges.

Garda Alan McGrath said he charged the defendant with an additional offence at 8.23pm and stated that Mr Batiuk made no reply to the charge.

Ms Cathy McDarby, solicitor for Mr Batiuk, said that she would not be applying for bail at this stage but asked that while in custody her client receives 'appropriate medical and psychiatric assessment'. She was also granted legal aid saying her client is on social welfare.

Judge Fiona Lydon remanded Mr Batiuk in custody to appear via video link before Harristown District Court on October 6. She also recommended that Mr Batiuk receive any medical intervention as deemed appropriate including psychiatric treatment while in custody.