Navan man brought young son to scene of break-in and assault

Trim Court heard a Navan man broke into a couple’s home with another man and assaulted them while in the presence of his 10 year old son.

This concerns Bernard Hand (33), from 12 Tailteann Road, Navan who was in Trim Circuit Court for sentencing charged with burglary and assault. David Wilde (31), also referred to as David Hand, from 77 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, was being charged with burglary at the same time.

The court heard on 2nd June 2024 at approximately 2pm Mr Wilde and Mr Hand entered a home in Navan. The court heard they were both intoxicated on alcohol and drugs during the burglary and were accompanied by Mr Hand’s ten year old son.

The two men, Mr Hand with a wooden stick and Mr Wilde holding a bag containing alcohol, asked a woman in the home where their son was.

She said her son wasn't home before the two men entered with Mr Hand pushing her and hitting her with a stick.

Her husband tried to stop him while Mr Wilde pushed her down to the ground. Mr Hand went upstairs searching the son’s room while the man followed him. There was a struggle between the two before the man fell into a bathroom and was struck twice by the accused.

After leaving the house Mr Hand threw the stick at the sitting room window which smashed it before kicking in the front door.

Gardai arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and observed the man had blood coming from his head. They were able to identify the two accused through video footage. They were arrested and detained with Mr Hand maintaining no comment and Mr Wilde denying any knowledge of what happened. Mr Wilde entered a guilty plea in the courts and has been in custody since 12th January this year. Mr Hand plead guilty during a trial date and was placed into custody after failing to appear in court.

Judge John Martin said the two men went out “on an escapade on a sunny afternoon setting out to attack this household”.

Mr Hand has 60 previous convictions with six for assaults and one for burglary and was on bail for three offences at the time of the offending. Mr Wilde has 82 previous convictions including one for burglary and was on bail for 20 offences at the time, two of which he has since been convicted for.

Defending Barrister for Mr Wilde James O’Brien told the court his client has been suffering from a heroin addiction for a significant period of his life. BL O’Brien said following his release from prison on another occasion he “got himself together” and did not come to garda attention for a short period while gaining employment before he relapsed on drugs.

The defending barrister said Mr Wilde wants to get back where he was after his previous period of custody.

Defending barrister for Mr Hand, BL Noah Rossiter, instructed by Solicitor Dania Clejan, told the court his client was suffering from an alcohol and drug addiction which he alleges he is now clean of. BL Rossiter told the court the accused’s father was murdered in a family. He is currently undertaking courses to get a job in construction and wants to become a positive role model to his children.

Judge Martin noted how Mr Hand wants to be a positive example of a parent but “in a shining example to your son," the accused committed the burglary while he was present.

Both Mr Hand and Mr Wilde were sentenced to two years in prison with an additional year suspended backdated to when they entered into custody.

- Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme