Two accused denied bail, third granted consent to bail in Monaghan serious assault case

Alleged victim in an induced coma in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, more serious charges may yet be brought against the defendants

Two of three people, who appeared at Cavan District Court this afternoon charged in connection with a serious assault in Monaghan Town on Tuesday, have been denied bail. The third accused was remanded in custody with consent to bail once an independent surety of €2,500 is provided.

Stephen Maughan (23), 121 The Boulevard, Mounteustace, Tyrrellstown, Dublin 15; Jason Maughan (25), 42 Mullaghmatt, Monaghan; and Molly Roberts (21), Lakeview, Enagh, Co Monaghan, appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan charged with assaulting Declan Wallace and causing him harm at Park Road, Mullaghmonaghan, Co Monaghan, on January 14, 2024.

During this afternoon’s hearing the State objected to bail for all three defendants over concerns around them leaving the jurisdiction; the fact that “more serious charges are likely” once a medical report is received; and CCTV evidence of the alleged assault.

Sergeant Ciara Hayes told Judge Finnegan in her direct evidence that the footage showed Stephen and Jason Maughan exiting a car, approaching the injured party and Jason administering two blows with a steel baseball bat to the head and elbow of the man who is currently in an induced coma in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital. The court also heard that none of the defendants have previous convictions.

“They left the scene and left Mr Wallace helpless,” continued Sergeant Hayes before adding the trio returned thereafter to the address of the brothers’ parents.

"Jason then hid the bat in the back garden before leaving the jurisdiction. Ms Roberts did call an ambulance.”

The court heard there had been a verbal argument between Stephen and Jason Maughan and Mr Wallace earlier in the day. Stephen also had a wooden bat but the court was told that “both weapons have now been recovered”.

"Jason has a four-year-old child and on the night he took the child out of the house and they left the jurisdiction with Ms Roberts who he is in a relationship with,” the Sergeant continued. “They have admitted their part in the assault.”

In mitigation for the Maughan brothers, counsel Sara Brennan asked Garda Hayes to explain further why there were concerns around her clients leaving the jurisdiction. She said that while their family resided in Co Monaghan, they had ties to Northern Ireland because their father is from there.

“In relation to them fleeing, they did leave but came back the following morning and handed themselves into gardaí, isn’t that correct?” asked counsel.

Sergeant Hayes replied “yes” before counsel took the opportunity to highlight to the court that neither of her clients were of financial means, making their risk of fleeing even less when put into context. “They have no way of establishing themselves in Northern Ireland, isn’t that right Sergeant?”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

Ms Brennan BL went on to say that her clients had made admissions, been highly-co-operative with investigating gardaí and that both weapons associated with the case had been recovered.

“They come to court with clean records and as a result are untested before the courts because they don’t have previous convictions,” she continued.

“Therefore they are entitled to the presumption of liberty. They voluntarily handed themselves in and were under no obligation to do so. This is a serious offence and they are not shying away from that. We would be proposing bail with conditions. They are extremely distraught and have been since being interviewed.”

Following his deliberations Judge Finnegan denied bail to both defendants. He said he was concerned about them being a flight risk due to the fact that “they have already left the jurisdiction”. He remanded them in custody to appear via video link at Monaghan District Court on Monday, January 20.

With regard to Ms Roberts, the court heard that the State was objecting to bail on the same grounds as her co-defendants. Sergeant Hayes highlighted how CCTV footage showed the defendant “pulling up” at the scene and two males alighting from the vehicle.

She said the men assaulted the injured party and returned to the car where Ms Roberts then drove away and back to Mullaghmatt.

“She has already left the jurisdiction and would have witnessed the earlier altercation between the Maughans and Mr Wallace,” added Sergeant Hayes.

“Her vehicle has been seized and is currently being examined. She did call 999 to seek help for the injured party when she arrived back in Mullaghmatt however she failed to do this at the earliest opportunity."

In mitigation Ms Roberts' solicitor Martin Cosgrove said his client “didn’t know what was going to happen” on the night. He told the court that she had co-operated fully and that, when she returned to Mullaghmatt, she dialled 999 to seek help for the injured party “as soon as the two boys got out of the car”.

“They drove around all night - she left Mullaghmatt because she felt it was all going to kick off - and it was she who drove the two boys to the garda station the next morning, and brought the child back to the house,” he added.

“She has no previous convictions and has never been in court before. She says she didn’t see any implements until the boys got out of the car and ran across the road to the injured party with it. She co-operated fully with gardaí and works in a childcare facility in Mullaghmatt and resides with her parents."

During his deliberations, Judge Finnegan said the defendant deserved to be treated “somewhat differently” to her co accuseds.

The judge subsequently ordered an Independent Surety and €2,500 in cash. He also imposed conditional bail that requires the defendant to provide gardaí with a phone number; sign on twice daily at Monaghan Garda Station; reside at an address in Enagh; and obey a curfew between 10pm-7am.

She was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear at Monaghan District Court on Monday, January 20.