*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 feuds”.
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 McDonagh’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 McDonagh’s two second cousins and alleged injuries parties in this case are not involved in any feud but their family has been.
Solicitor, Țară 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 “this is not a feud related incident but is down to Patrick McDonagh’s mental health difficulties”.
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 traveller’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.
