A 55-year-old Englishman is to appear before Galway District Court today on a charge of falsely imprisoning his wife at Oughterard, Co Galway, over the weekend.
Mr Ian Raymond Weston, also known as Marcus Adams, initially appeared at a special sitting of the district court on Saturday night. A native of Crawley in Sussex, he has been living in Oughterard for the last few months.
Garda Gay O'Brien gave evidence of arresting Mr Weston and charging him with falsely imprisoning Bridie Conroy at Carrowmanagh, Oughterard, on July 13th. He also charged him with having an air rifle with intent to resist arrest.
Garda O'Brien said that in response to the false imprisonment charge, the defendant had replied: "I never intended her any harm at all." He had made no reply to the second charge.
Supt Tony Dowd told Judge Al O'Dea that he was applying to have Mr Weston remanded in custody. He had spent 53 years living in England and had spent the last two years living in Ireland.
Supt Dowd said he believed that if Mr Weston was granted bail, he would not stand trial. While in Ireland, he had used five different names and lived at four different addresses.
Mr Weston, who is unemployed, was granted legal aid. His solicitor, Mr Adrian MacLynn, said he was reserving his position on the matter of bail.
Judge O'Dea remanded Mr Weston in custody to Galway District Court today.
