Prominent republican due before cavan circuit court tomorrow
Prominent Republican Pearse McCauley has been further charged with causing serious harm to his estranged wife and former Sinn Féin councillor Pauline Tully.
Mr McCauley, who appeared in custody from Castlerea Prison at Cavan District Court last Thursday (May 28), wore a Tyrone GAA top and only spoke “yes” to confirm an alibi warning from Judge James Faughnan.
The court heard from Garda Inspector Seamus Boyle that the Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offence Against The Person Act allegation relates to 'intentionally or recklessly causes serious harm to another [Ms Tully]’, is an “indictable” one, and it had been added to others relating to Christmas Eve of last year to go forward to Cavan Circuit Court, which begins tomorrow morning (June 3).
Mr McCauley (50), whose name is sometimes listed as 'McAuley’, is originally from Strabane, Co Tyrone, has an address listed as Apartment 2, Block 1, Cavan Bank Walk, Ballyconnell and is accused of the offence at Keelderry, Kilnaleck. A March 19 court heard that Mr McCauley faces life imprisonment if found guilty over alleged threats to kill and of false imprisonment relating to the same date.
He had already been charged with assault causing harm to his estranged wife and with threatening to kill neighbour Seamus Leddy and her brother, Thomas. He is further charged with assault, false imprisonment and production of a knife during the course of a dispute or fight. Mr McCauley was represented in court by Tracey McDermott of Claffey Gannon solicitors in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, who did not make a bail application on behalf of her client. Free legal aid for a senior and junior counsel had already been approved.