Wicklow man refused bail after extradition from Spain to face assault charges involving girlfriend
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow man extradited from Spain, after allegedly absconding before a hearing on drug offences, has been refused bail while awaiting a new hearing and a trial on a series of serious assault charges.
Robert O’Connell Sinclair (31), of Beechwood Park, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, appeared before a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Court for a bail hearing, charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply, seven counts of assault causing harm and false imprisonment.
Detective Inspector Ger Brennan of Bray Garda Station told the court that gardaí were objecting to bail as the accused had been extradited from Spain, after allegedly absconding before a hearing on the drug charge.
A bench warrant was issued for Mr O’Connell Sinclair on July 2, 2021, but he was not arrested until July 9, 2026, when he was detained while entering Tenerife, following the issuing of a European Arrest Warrant.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, informed the court that Mr O’Connell Sinclair is accused of assaulting his partner at her home address in Arklow after he failed to appear.
It is alleged that he strangled his then girlfriend during a “sustained assault”, before throwing her to the ground and threatening to kill her in front of their five-month-old baby.
Det Inspector Brennan said the complainant escaped through a bathroom window before taking refuge at a neighbour’s home, but when gardaí arrived Mr O’Connell Sinclair “could not be found to be arrested”.
The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that Mr O’Connell Sinclair be charged with assault causing harm, rather than under Section 3A of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, as the offence of non-fatal strangulation or non-fatal suffocation had not yet been commenced in law until November 1, 2023.
Mr Kelly told Judge John Martin that it is believed the defendant would not appear for future court dates, as he had previously fled the jurisdiction.
During cross-examination, counsel for the defence, Gregory Murphy, instructed by Pauric Hyland Solicitors, said his client had appeared before a court in Madrid and engaged with the process of being returned to Ireland.
However, Mr O’Connell Sinclair is believed to have entered the Republic of Ireland through Belfast, with the court hearing that “intelligence states that he never made any effort to hand himself into gardaí”.
Mr Murphy argued that Mr O’Connell Sinclair had access to a €5,000 surety and an address where he could reside, adding that his client had “matured” since fleeing the country.
He asked Judge Martin to grant what is colloquially known as “boomerang bail”, a trial period on bail to determine whether the accused would comply with his bail conditions.
Judge Martin refused the application and remanded the accused in custody until October 6 to fix a date for both matters.