A man who barricaded himself and his girlfriend inside the sitting room of his parent's home last month and then began "frothing at the mouth" with rage when Gardaí went to arrest him, has been remanded on bail to November to see how he behaves and is to sign on weekly at Galway Garda Station in a sober state, in the meantime.

Damien McElroy (35), formerly of 30 John Coogan Park, Newcastle, Galway, had been held in custody since the incident, which took place at the family home on 30 August last, charged with barricading himself and his girlfriend, Geraldine Carr, in the sitting room on 30 August last by placing furniture against the door, and resisting Gardaí by refusing them entry, thereby causing a breach of the peace, contrary to Common Law.

At Galway District Court on Monday, his father, Mr Martin McElroy, withdrew a complaint against his son of causing criminal damage to the sitting room door while the accused pleaded guilty to obstructing Garda Thomas Doyle on the same date.

He did, however, contest a charge of assaulting his girlfriend, which Garda Doyle said he witnessed.

Carol McElroy, a sister of the accused, gave evidence that she came home after a night out with her friends and spoke to her brother and his girlfriend in the sitting room.

She said she told him he had treated his ex-girlfriend like "rubbish" and he was treating his current girlfriend the same way. She said she went upstairs to bed a short time later and then heard arguing downstairs. She heard her mother go down and she followed her.

She said her mother tried to talk to Damien but he threatened to stab her or anyone who went near him. She said he pulled his girlfriend into the sitting room and barricaded the door with furniture. She and her mother left the house and the Gardaí were called. She admitted she, her brother and his girlfriend had drink taken.

Garda Doyle gave evidence that he looked through a broken pane of glass on the sitting room door and saw Ms Carr huddled in a corner of the sitting room crying. He and Garda Fitzmaurice pushed the furniture away from the door and tried to restrain the accused.

Garda Doyle said Damien McElroy was "frothing at the mouth" with rage and, as they lay on him on the floor and tried to handcuff him, he kicked out with his feet.