*Danny Harty.
A 26 year old Shannon man goaded Gardaí on social media with a ‘catch me if you can’ type message as officers were searching for him concerning alleged assaults committed by the man, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan gave details of Garda efforts to apprehend Daniel Harty Jnr of Inis Eagla, Shannon concerning three alleged assaults he carried out on three males in Shannon on October 26th last.
During a contested bail hearing, Det Sgt O’Hagan stated that Garda were looking for Mr Harty in relation to the assault matters before the court having called to his house on numerous occasions looking for him.
He said, “When we were looking for him on this investigation he even posted on social media goading Gardaí with a ‘catch me if you can’ kind of message”.
Det Sgt O’Hagan made his comments when objecting to bail for Mr Harty and after Judge Fiona Brennan remanded Mr Harty in custody, solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick for Mr Harty told the court that Mr Harty was previously the victim of a shooting.
Mr Fitzpatrick asked that security measures be put in place when Mr Harty is brought to prison telling Judge Brennan that “there is an active threat on his life”.
In 2023 at the Central Criminal Court, Tony McInerney (30), formerly of Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, Co Clare, was jailed for 17 years for the attempted murder of Mr Harty at Pound St, Sixmilebridge on January 18th, 2020.
Concerning the three assault charges against Mr Harty from October 26th last at Bru na Sionna, Det Sgt O’Hagan told the court that “all are very serious offences and the evidence is very strong”.
In the case, Mr Harty is charged with the assault causing harm of Conor Kelly and Alex Horgan and the assault of Dylan Fitzgerald.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said that it will be alleged that shortly after 6pm on October 26th, Mr Harty assaulted Conor Kelly with the result of Conor Kelly being knocked unconscious and lying on a roadway in the Bru na Sionna area.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said that it will be alleged that Mr Kelly received kicks and punches from the accused where Mr Harty allegedly struck Mr Kelly eight times with head punches and face punches.
In relation to the alleged assault on Alex Horgan, Det Sgt O’Hagan said that it will be alleged that Mr Harty kicked him twice in the head while on the ground and there were others also involved in the assault on Mr Horgan.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said it is his belief that the matters will be dealt with in the Circuit Court.
He said that unfortunately none of the three alleged victims have made statements of complaint to the Gardai. Det Sgt O’Hagan said that it will be alleged that Daniel Harty was “the main aggressor”.
Refusing bail, Judge Brennan remanded Mr Harty in custody to appear via video link from prison at Ennis District Court on December 17th next.
