Ballina man charged with false imprisonment following supermarket stand-off

A MAN appeared in court where he was charged with false imprisonment and assault on a garda arising from an incident at a shop in Ballina last September.

Mateusz Batiuk (34) of Apartment 7, Tone House, Tone Street, Ballina appeared before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday, February 7, where he was charged in relation to an incident on September 27 last at the Taste the World supermarket on Market Square, Ballina.

Sergeant Pat McCann told Judge Fiona Lydon that he met the defendant before the court and charged him with false imprisonment, assault on a garda, criminal damage and possession of a knife.

When the four charges were put to him, Mr Batiuk replied: 'I take that anyways' to one charge, 'I didn't assault nobody' to another, 'I did let him go' and 'I plead not guilty' to the other two charges.

Mr Batiuk had previously been charged in relation to the incident and has been in custody since last September. His solicitor, Cathy McDarby told the court that he will not be applying for bail and there was consent for him to be remanded in custody.

Sergeant Conor McShane, the court presenter, said that the DPP had directed trial on indictment in relation to all the charges and there was consent for Mr Batiuk to be sent forward to the circuit court for sentence on a signed plea. Ms McDarby asked that all statements in relation to the case would be forwarded to her.

Judge Lydon remanded Mr Batiuk in custody on all charges to appear via videolink before Ballina District Court on February 13.