FORMER border Fine Gael TD Sean Conlan is facing assault and weapons charges after a man was allegedly ‘glassed’ during an incident in a Co Monaghan pub last summer.
Mr Conlan, who quit Fine Gael last month and is now serving as an independent TD, appeared before Carrickmacross District Court today after being arrested outside the courthouse by arrangement.
The court heard that the Cavan-Monaghan deputy is set to face charges of producing article capable of inflicting serious injury and of assault causing harm.
Judge Denis McLoughlin heard that the charges related to an incident at the Conlan family pub in Ballybay, Co Monaghan, on Sunday August 23, during which a man required stitches to his arm after being ‘glassed’.
Mr Conlan was released on bail on his own bond of €100 to appear before the court in January
First elected to the Dáil in 2011, Mr Conlan confirmed last month confirmed his intention to run as an independent candidate in the Republic’s upcoming general election.
Blaming the government’s handling of the North/South Interconnector project for his decision to quit Fine Gael, he told Northern Sound radio: "Sometimes you feel Fine Gael is not supporting you. I am Fine Gael in my heart and have been all my life but I feel in this instance the individuals at the top didn’t listen to us on the ground in terms of what we want to do. And in terms of this project alone, the North South Interconnector. I don’t think they have listened to us."
