The District Court judge in Kerry has refused jurisdiction in the case of a man accused of multiple serious assaults allegedly linked to drug dealing in this county.
25-year-old Krzysztof Markowski, of 207 Parklands, Tralee, is before the court on eight charges, some of which allegedly relate to disputes over drug debts.
At Tralee District Court, Judge David Waters refused jurisdiction on some charges, but the Director of Public Prosecution will decide where the man will be tried on the rest of the charges.
Sergeant Chris Manton told Tralee District Court he did not yet have directions from the DPP, but he believed the charges against him would be dealt with on indictment in a higher court.
Judge Waters asked him to outline the facts to assess whether he would have jurisdiction to hear the case in the District Court.
Sgt Manton said it’s alleged that Mr Markowski entered an apartment at 2pm on 10th September in Tralee with five other men, caused a man to jump out the window of the apartment, and then kicked and assaulted him.
He said separately, on 26th July, Mr Markowski is accused of entering the home of someone at 2am and assaulting them with a baseball bat.
Judge Waters refused jurisdiction on these matters, meaning they will be heard in a higher court than district level.
Mr Markowski is also charged with violent disorder in Listowel on 15th March this year, and of striking a woman in the face with a crowbar on 7th August in Denny Street in Tralee.
Gardaí had told Mr Markowski’s initial bail hearing they believed some of his offending related to rival drug dealing and drug debts in Tralee.
Judge Waters remanded him in continuing custody to 22nd October, when he will next appear in court via video link.
On the charges Judge Water refused, the state must now prepare its book of evidence; on the other charges, the DPP is to direct where Mr Markowski will be tried.
His solicitor Pádraig O’Connell told the court that his client is finding life difficult where he is.
