A 44-YEAR-OLD County Clare man told a retired district court judge “you put me in jail for nothing” before allegedly punching him outside an Ennis cafe, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court, Jamie O’Connor of Laurel Lodge, Clare Rd, Ennis appeared in connection with the alleged assault of retired district court judge, Joseph Mangan, last Saturday afternoon.

The retired judge – now in his early 80s – served as a judge for 27 years and was the assigned district court judge for Clare from 2001 to October 2011 when he retired at the age of 67.

In the case, Mr O’Connor is charged with the assault causing harm of Joseph Mangan at Barrack Court, Ennis contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on 14 June.

Judge Alec Gabbett said: “This is an extremely serious alleged offence where a retired district court judge now into his 80s was allegedly assaulted for carrying out a public duty when he was a judge.”

Judge Gabbett said: “There is a possibility of other charges to follow here.”

In a contested bail application for Mr O’Connor, Sergeant John Burke told the court that at 2.25pm on 14 June, Mr Mangan was sitting outside the Gourmet Store on Barrack Court in Ennis having a coffee.

Sergeant Burke said that it will be alleged that Mr O’Connor approached Mr Mangan “and told him aggressively ‘you put me in jail for nothing’.

Sergeant Burke said: “Following a brief interaction it is alleged that Mr O’Connor stood up and punched Mr Mangan.”

Sergeant Burke said that Mr O’Connor then fled the scene in the direction of O’Connell Street.

He said that Mr Mangan went to the local injuries unit in Ennis where he was treated for possible concussion and dizziness.

Sergeant Burke said that Mr Mangan made a statement to local Gardai.

Sergeant Burke said that there was no medical evidence yet to hand and said that Mr O’Connor was later arrested where he made no admissions “and blamed alcohol for his memory loss”.

Sergeant Burke confirmed to the court that there is an independent witness to what occurred.

Sergeant Burke also confirmed that Gardai were opposing bail and said that the original Garda position of consenting to bail for Mr O’Connor on stringent conditions was based on the length of time the case will take before the court.

Judge Gabbett said that he was refusing bail based on the seriousness of the charge before the court.

He said: “The allegation here is that a retired member of the judiciary was punched on the street.”

He said that “the facts of the case are very straightforward”.

Judge Gabbett granted legal aid to solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick to represent Mr O’Connor.

Mr Fitzpatrick asked that bail be granted as it will take a number of months for directions to be made in the case.

Judge Gabbett remanded Mr O’Connor in custody to appear via video-link from Limerick prison in court next Wednesday, 25 June.