A 55-year-old Englishman has appeared in court tonight charged with falsely imprisoning his wife and possessing a firearm with intent to resist arrest. Ian Raymond Weston, also known as Marcus Adams, with an address at Oughterard, County Galway, was remanded in custody for a week.
Mr Weston appeared before a special sitting of the District Court in Galway, shortly after 8pm this evening. He appeared on two charges arising from an eleven-hour siege which continued last night and early today. He was charged with falsely imprisoning Bridie Conroy without her consent, and with possessing an airgun with intent to resist arrest by a Garda. Mr Weston, who is a native of Crawley, Sussex, was arrested in Oughterard at 5am this morning. When taken to Salthill Garda Station and charged, he replied, "I never intended her any harm at all."
Gardaí told the court that they were opposing bail because the defendant had used five different names since coming to live in Ireland three years ago. Superintendent Tony Dowd said that Mr Weston had lived at four different addresses since he came here and he did not believe that he would stand trial if he was allowed bail. Adrian McGlynn, defence solicitor, did not oppose the application to remand Mr Weston in custody. Mr Weston, who was described as "unemployed," was remanded to appear before the Galway District Court next week.
