A dispute over an energy bill between two men – both long-serving bus drivers – ended up with one of them being charged with damaging two television sets at a Navan property. Ernest Onaghise (57), The View, Ruxton Oaks, Navan appeared at Trim District Court charged with damaging the TVs valued at €400 the property of Mathew Obasuyi at Distillery Quay, Mill Lane, Navan on 2 nd May 2023. He was defended by barrister Niall Gallagher.
Garda Neary told the court that he got a report about a dispute between two men at Mill Lane. When he went to the address there was one man there, Mathew Obasuyi and he was told another male had gone to hospital. He observed blood on the floor and there was also a TV on the floor. Later, he received photographs from both parties. In reply to Mr Gallagher, Garda Neary said that no scenes-of-crime Gardai had attended the premises and he had not taken photographs of the scene. He said that, apparently, there had been an argument about payment of an energy bill.
It had been alleged that Mathew Obasuyi had struck the defendant with a “stone or brick” which he had produced from his pocket and this allegation would be before a separate court. Following the incident Ernest Onaghise was charged with criminal damage. Mathew Obasuyi told the court that he was the owner of the apartment and Ernest Onaghise was his tenant. He said that Onaghise had got very angry. “He pushed me and hit me. I hit him back”.
Some blood had come out of Onaghise’s mouth. The witness said he had gone straight to Navan Garda Station. At that stage, after 8pm there was no Garda available and he was told to go back to the apartment and wait for a Garda. When he got back he found two TVs broken. He said Onaghise was not happy with him because he had given him notice to leave. In cross-examination Mr Gallagher accused the witness of “trying to minimise” the injuries he had caused to Ernest Onaghise when he struck him. In fact, Ernest Onaghise had suffered a fractured eye
socket which needed surgery.
The defendant said in evidence that he and Obasuyi had been friends for a long time and he had moved in with him. On 2 nd May 2023 Obasuyi had banged on his bedroom door. There was a disagreement over an energy bill of €1,200. He alleged that Obasuyi had put his hand in his pocket, took out a brick and hit him (Onaghise) with it. He said he as dizzy and made to reach for his phone to dial 999. “I was in a pool of blood”, he said.
“He struck me first. I wasn’t ready for a fight. He was very angry when he knocked on my door. He wanted me to pay the bill but I said we would have to share the bill”. Mr Gallagher made an application to have the charge struck out against his client on the basis that there were “glaring inconsistencies” in the evidence before the court.
Judge Eirinn McKiernan said she intended to convict the defendant. Mr Gallagher said his client was a 58-year-old man with five children who had no previous convictions. The judge called a recess in the case and later agreed to strike out the charge against Ernest Onaghise on his agreement to pay €400 compensation to the other man.
