A 53 year old man has appeared in court in connection with two alleged unlawful discharges of a shotgun close to an Ennis housing estate and primary school.
At Ennis District Court, father of eight, James Keenan appeared in connection with five charges from the two unlawful shotgun discharges in Ennis on November 30th 2022.
In the case, Mr Keenan of John Paul Avenue, Ennis is charged with the unlawful discharge of a shotgun being reckless as to whether someone was injured or not at Cloughleigh Rd, Ennis and at Shallee Drive, Cloughleigh on November 30th 2022 contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.
Mr Keenan is also facing two charges of recklessly discharging a firearm in the direction of Joe Joyce, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm in another, contrary to Section 13 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
Mr Keenan is also charged with having in his possession a shotgun for an unlawful purpose at Cloughleigh Rd, Cloughleigh, Ennis on the same date.
In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Det Garda Aoife O’Malley said that Mr Keenan replied ‘not guilty’ to each charge after caution.
Opposing bail, Det Garda O’Malley told the court that on November 30th Gardaí were aware of an ongoing feud between members of the Keenan and Joyce family in Ennis.
She said that tensions were high and several incidents occurred on that day and at around 5pm Garda received a report of trouble in the John Paul Avenue area and subsequently calls were made concerning Cloughleigh Rd and that a shooting had occurred.
Det Garda O’Malley said that one social media video of the incident showed a gun pointing out of the passenger seat of a blue Ford Mondeo and a shot appears to be discharged and a passenger exits with a firearm before returning to a car.
Det O’Malley said that a vehicle owned by a Joe Joyce sustained damage to the driver’s side door consistent with a shotgun blast and vehicle was seized.
Det O’Malley said that Mr Joyce made a statement to Gardai consistent with the video observed by Gardai.
Det O’Malley said a second shot was discharged in the direction of Joe Joyce.
She said that Gardai were able to view a recording from a phone owned by Joe Joyce which was placed at the centre of the windscreen of his van.
Det O’Malley said that the shotgun has never been recovered and alleged that James Keenan and members of his family “have been involved in a long term volatile feud with members of the Joyce family”
She further alleged that the unrest between Keenan and Joyce families has been going on since 2013 and has manifested itself into a dangerous and violent feud since and a number of serious incidents have occurred on both sides.
Det O’Malley said that the discharge of a firearm charges are at the higher end as they took place in a residential area and outside a primary school at 5pm in the day.
She said that there was no regard for members of the public.
Det Garda O’Malley agreed with solicitor, Tara Godfrey for Mr Keenan that no one was hurt in the incident and Ms Godfrey said her client at all points has denied the charges.
Ms Godfrey said that Mr Keenan would say he is not part of any ongoing feud and she told the court that Mr Keenan has no previous conviction for any feud related activity.
However, Judge Darach McCarthy refused bail and remanded Mr Keenan in custody to appear in court via video-link from prison at Ennis District Court next Wednesday.
