A man who took off his belt and allegedly struck a woman with the metal buckle during an assault in Letterkenny is to stand trial.
A book of evidence has been served on Larry McCarthy in relation to an incident at Lower Main Street, Letterkenny on August 16, 2024.
The 20-year-old appeared before Letterkenny District Court where Garda Gillian Page gave evidence of serving a book of evidence.
McCarthy made no reply when cautioned, Garda Page said.
He is charged that he did while committing an offence, to wit, assault causing harm in the course of a dispute produced in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, a belt with a metal buckle.
The charge is contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.
The court heard previously that McCarthy did not know the victim.
Gardai arrived at the scene of a disturbance and saw McCarthy put his face into the woman’s face in a head-butt gesture.
The woman pushed him back and he then took off his belt and allegedly struck her in the chest with the metal buckle.
McCarthy, of Cornmarket Villas, Little Gerald Street in Limerick, is also charged with assaulting a woman and causing her harm.
At an earlier court sitting, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused jurisdiction in the matter.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has now directed that McCarthy be sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Judge Cunningham made an order returning McCarthy for trial. A section 56 order, relating to tapes of interviews, was made, and the alibi warning was given.
Legal aid was granted to solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien and one legal counsel was assigned.
McCarthy is also charged with being intoxicated on the same night as well as engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. These charges are set to return before the District Court in September.
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