*Damage to one of the graves in Drumcliffe.

THERE are currently 10 traveller families in Ennis feuding with each other.

At a sitting of Ennis District Court on Thursday, Judge Mary Larkin refused bail to 41 year old married father of eight children, Patrick McDonagh after a senior Garda told the court that Patrick McDonagh of Dun hInse, Ennis “is one of the main aggressors and agitators in one of the ongoing feudsโ€.

Patrick McDonagh was before the court after being charged with criminally damaging two cars belonging to his second cousins, Michael McDonagh and another also called Patrick McDonagh with a slash-hook at Considine Rd, Cloughleigh, Ennis on December 13th.

Mr McDonagh is also charged with the possession of a slash-hook contrary to Section 11 of the Offensive Weapons Act at the same location on the same date.

In evidence during Mr McDonaghโ€™s bail application, Det Garda Brendan Rouine said that it will be alleged that an owner of one of the cars, Michael McDonagh was sitting in his car at 10.05pm having a cup of tea and smoking a cigarette when the accused struck the wind-screen with a slash hook.

Det Rouine said that Michael McDonagh avoided serious injury when he was able to reverse the car with the slash-hook embedded in the windscreen.

Det Rouine said that it is his belief that the accused, Patrick McDonagh, formerly of Davitt Terrace, Cloughleigh, Ennis instigated this attack on another McDonagh family as part of the feud.

Det Rouine said that Patrick McDonaghโ€™s two second cousins and alleged injuries parties in this case are not involved in any feud but their family has been.

Solicitor, ศšarฤƒ Godfrey for the accused said that a member of the local Gardai has told her that there are currently 10 traveller families in Ennis feuding with each other but she said that this incident was not feud related.

Ms Godfrey said that โ€œthis is not a feud related incident but is down to Patrick McDonaghโ€™s mental health difficultiesโ€.

Ms Godfrey made her comment concerning the 10 traveller families being involved in feuding after videos have appeared on social media over the past week concerning various flash-points from different feuds including one video of a fire being started at a travellerโ€™s grave at Drumcliffe cemetery outside Ennis.

Ms Godfrey said that Patrick McDonagh is on medication for anxiety and depression and required Shannondoc for his mental health when at Ennis Garda Station after the incident on Considine Rd.

The alleged injured parties in the case, Michael McDonagh and Patrick McDonagh gave sworn evidence that they are both in fear of Patrick McDonagh.

Judge Larkin refused bail to Mr McDonagh due to the seriousness of the charge along with other reasons and remanded him in custody to appear at Ennis District Court via video-link next Wednesday.

Related News

grow mental health 1
Kilmaley social dancing raises โ‚ฌ2k for Grow Mental Health
john o'brien marie crowe ronan murphy 1
Local history of Sixmilebridge revisited in new publication
corofin 26-07-19 8
Lack of urgency to install EV charging points 'in climate crisis' slammed by Cllrs
Joe Melody pod ep 5 thumbnail
Business Chamber Episode 5: Joe Whelan
Latest News
toonagh cรฉilรญ 1
Toonagh Cรฉilรญ brings in โ‚ฌ1.2k for Clare branch of Alzheimer Society
รฉire รณg v clooney:quin 05-10-25 gerry o'connor 7
'We're not sure how high our ceiling is' - O'Connor says ร‰ire ร“g have no fear for Munster final with Ballygunner
tommy hegarty highview ben 1
Lucky thirteen for Highview Ben
รฉire รณg v inagh kilnamona 07-09-25 darragh stack 1
Darragh bringing the right mindset to ร‰ire ร“g's attempts for Munster glory
o'callaghans mills vs upperchurch drombane 29-11-25 nicky o'toole 1
Fireballs see red as The Mills finish with 12 men in controversial Munster final defeat
Premium
Darragh bringing the right mindset to ร‰ire ร“g's attempts for Munster glory
Fireballs see red as The Mills finish with 12 men in controversial Munster final defeat
'It's nearly time for pre-season & we're getting ready for a Munster final' - Nugent relishing Mills campaign
Munster final 'a huge game' & massive opportunity for O'Callaghans Mills
Lack of urgency to install EV charging points 'in climate crisis' slammed by Cllrs

Subscribe for just โ‚ฌ3 per month

If youโ€™re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just โ‚ฌ3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter โ‚ฌ8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.