By Ronan Judge

A 24-year-old man allegedly punched a partygoer a number of times and robbed her phone, a court has heard.

The court heard the incident is alleged to have occurred in Hazel Park, Newcastle, Galway City, on February 3, 2025.

Ruairi Murphy, with an address at Bridge Street, Ballinasloe, is charged with assault causing harm to the woman, contrary to section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act, as amended.

He is also charged with robbery of an iPhone worth €500 from the same person, contrary to section 14 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Sergeant Claire Heneghan told the court the alleged victim was attending a party next door to the house where the accused was staying at the time.

The woman was outside the house and on the phone when, it is alleged, there was an interaction between her and the accused — and Murphy punched the woman and stole her phone.

The court heard the woman sustained soreness and swelling and suffered a panic attack after the alleged assault.

However, Sgt Heneghan told the court the woman had since made a full recovery.

Judge Fiona Lydon accepted jurisdiction to hear the case in the district court.

Murphy is also charged with being in possession of stolen property — designer clothes worth €1,200 — at a house in Hazel Park on April 28, 2025.

Sgt Heneghan said in that case, there had been a burglary at the accused’s then neighbours and a number of items of clothing were stolen.

It was alleged one of the neighbours later saw Murphy wearing some of the clothes and alerted the Gardaí.

Sgt Heneghan said the stolen clothes were later found in the house Murphy was staying in at the time.

Judge Lydon accepted jurisdiction and granted a legal aid application for defence solicitor, Jack Donohue.

The case was adjourned to January 19.

■ Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.