Man charged with using a hammer to carry out assault

A man charged with hitting a sleeping man on the head with a hammer has been remanded in custody, to reappear before Athlone District Court.

Keith McDermott (39), of no fixed abode, but formerly of Thornbury Drive, Athlone, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens, who accepted jurisdiction on the charge of assault causing harm.

Sergeant Sandra Keane told the court that it is alleged that, on February 26, 2025, Gardaí received a call from the injured party, reporting that Mr McDermott had hit him in the head with a hammer.

She said Garda evidence would be that on arrival at Thornbury Drive, Gardaí spoke with the victim, who was being seen to by ambulance personnel.

He told Gardaí that he had been sleeping when Mr McDermott hit him in the head with a hammer. Gardaí entered the house, where the accused man was mopping up blood. He told Gardaí, “I hit him”, and was arrested.

Sgt Keane said there was no medical report before the court just yet, despite a disclosure order being made on February 11, but informed the court that the injured party’s head was glued.

Judge Owens accepted jurisdiction and solicitor Tony McLynn said he was instructed to look for a hearing date.

Mr McLynn said his client was in custody on these charges and noted the hearing would not take very long as there would be just one prosecution witness and the defendant’s evidence.

Mr McDermott was also facing a number of public order charges, including public intoxication and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Dominic Street, Mullingar on November 26, 2025. A similar charge of public intoxication related to The Quay, Athlone, on June 30, 2025.

He also faced a charge of criminal damage to seven drinking glasses, worth €5 each at Dunnes Stores Irishtown on November 3, 2025, and a charge of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Church Street, Athlone, on October 31, 2025.

Judge Owens sentenced him to two months imprisonment for the October public order charge, backdating it to December 26, 2025, when he first went into custody. The criminal damage charge attracted a three-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. The other public order charges were taken into consideration.

The defendant will reappear on the assault charge on March 9 for hearing.

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