Man 'fractured ex's spine after he jumped on her', court is told

Cillian Nolan (25) is accused of assaulting and injuring the woman after becoming aggressive about a man she had befriended on social media, a court heard.

Judge Michael Walsh refused him bail and adjourned the case at Dublin District Court.

Mr Nolan is charged with assault causing harm to the woman at her home in Drimnagh on November 14.

Objecting to bail, Garda Ashley Hynes said the alleged victim said the accused had been at her home when he became extremely aggressive in relation to a male she had become friends with on social media.

It was alleged he slammed her onto the ground with force and jumped on top of her "with his whole body weight".

The alleged victim went to St James's hospital emergency department that evening due to the pain she was in and it was found she had a number of fractures to her lower spine.

She had since been discharged from hospital.

Citing the strength of the proposed evidence, Gda Hynes said the woman had given a detailed account of what happened. The spine fractures in a medical report were consistent with the version of events the woman had provided to gardaí, she said. The DPP's directions were not yet available and the garda said she would have to get a more detailed report from the alleged victim's consultant.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Niall O'Connor said the accused and alleged victim had a child together and he would say he had been welcomed back to her home after they had been out together the previous night.

The accused, with an address in South Circular Road Dublin, was working full time, labouring for an electrician, Mr O'Connor said. "If he gets bail, I'd be in fear for my life," the alleged victim told the court. The court heard he had fractured her spine in three or four places and she had to return to hospital in the coming weeks for a CT scan.

They had been in an on-off relationship for a number of years, she said. She had been in love with him and "kept trying to give him chances".

The accused was presumed innocent and would abide by bail conditions, Mr O'Connor said.