*Trevor Quinn at Ennis Courthouse.
An 18-year old charged in connection with an alleged ‘random’ broad daylight machete attack on a busy Ennis street two weeks ago is sleeping on a mattress on a floor at Limerick prison while on remand, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, Trevor Quinn (18) of Hermitage, Ennis was appearing via video link from Limerick prison where he is charged in connection with the alleged machete attack on Shane Tuohy at Ennis’s Mill Rd at 3.30pm on Wednesday, November 20th.
In court, solicitor for Mr Quinn, Daragh Hassett said that not only has Mr Quinn not received any medical attention while at Limerick prison as recommended by Judge Gabbett “but he is sleeping on a mattress on the floor”.
Mr Hassett said that Mr Quinn has a better chance of seeing a doctor in the prison “if he has his own cell”.
In the incident, the machete was allegedly thrown into the River Fergus after the alleged assault and Judge Gabbett said, “I see the weapon was found”.
Sgt John Burke told Judge Gabbett that DPP directions are not yet received and asked for a further two week remand in custody for Mr Quinn to December 11th to Ennis District Court.
In court last week, Judge Gabbett refused bail to Mr Quinn after viewing photos of the alleged machete injuries to Mr Tuohy’s neck and ear.
Judge Alec Gabbett said that Mr Tuohy was ‘3mm from death’.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Tuohy’s artery was visible from the neck wound in the photos provided by Gardaí.
During a contested bail hearing last week, Judge Gabbett said that “this young man’s ear was nearly sliced off. It is but for the grace of God that this man is alive.”
Looking at the photos, Judge Gabbett said, “Death was not far off. One more millimetre and that artery was severed and you would have a minute at best. That is what really concerns me”.
Judge Gabbett said that the photos of the alleged injuries suffered show that they “were made with an extremely sharp implement with almost surgical precision”.
Mr Quinn is facing four separate charges and they are the assault causing harm of Shane Tuohy, a charge of violent disorder on Ennis’s Mill Rd and charges concerning the use of a machete and the possession of a carpet knife.
Garda Alison White said that Mr Quinn has no previous convictions and has not been before the courts before.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Quinn “is just a hair’s breadth over 18 and he is charged with extraordinary serious offences”.
Judge Gabbett remanded Mr Quinn further in custody to Limerick prison to appear via video link at Ennis District Court for December 11th and recommended that he receive medical attention.
