*Martin Molloy.
TWO Ennis brothers carried out a firebomb attack on a home where their 22 month old niece was present at the time arising from a family row sparked by an engagement ring, a court has heard.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford has jailed Peter Molloy (23) and Martin Molloy (25) for 20 months for the “completely outrageous” petrol bomb attack on the home of the Quinn family on Ennis’ Watery Rd in November 2023.
The court heard that the Quinn and Molloy families at the time were in dispute over an engagement ring.
Seven months after the petrol bomb attack, Peter Molloy suffered an ‘unspeakable tragedy’ through the loss of his infant son, Hunter in May 2024 when he was struck by a vehicle near his home on the Quin Rd in Ennis.
On the events of November 2023, Judge Comerford said that this was “a planned petrol bomb attack on a house”.
He said that he was “deeply conscious of all of the tragedy that has touched the Molloy family”.
He said, “Peter Molloy lost his 18 month old son last year but a 22 month old daughter of his deceased brother was present in the house at the time”.
He said, “It is a deeply, deeply serious crime”.
No one was injured in the petrol bomb attack which took place at 8.30pm on the night where the fire was quickly put out and the damage caused totalled €3,000.
Both Peter Molloy and Martin Molloy of Ballaghboy halting site pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of windows and the front door belonging to Margaret Quinn at Ennis’s Watery Rd on November 18th 2023.
Judge Comerford imposed a 45 month prison sentence on both and suspended the final 25 months in each case.
Judge Comerford said that it was impossible not to impose an immediate custodial sentence to make sure that “blatant attacks of this nature involving petrol bombing of occupied residential homes don’t occur”.
Counsel for Martin Molloy, Aaron Desmond BL (instructed by Shiofra Hassett) said that a brother of the two Molloys, Jim died and had been in a relationship with a member of the Quinn family.
He said, “There was an argument about an engagement ring between the two families and the engagement ring had significant sentimental value for both families”.
He said, “This unfortunate and tragic circumstance was the root of the animosity between the two families”.
Mr Desmond said that his client has never served a custodial sentence before.
Counsel for Peter Molloy, Pat Whyms BL (instructed by Daragh Hassett) said that families have resolved their difficulties and “and there are members from both families seated together in the back of the courtroom”.
Mr Whyms said that his client had engaged in a “ludicrous escapade” on November 18th 2023.
He said that “the families were fighting over an engagement ring” and what occurred on the night “was totally out of proportion”.
Mr Whyms said that Peter Molloy was “in a heightened state on the night and what happened was not pre-planned. They had talked themselves up into a state”.
Mr Whyms said that everything must be seen through the prism of “the speakable tragedy” suffered by the Molloy family with the loss of their 18 month boy in May 2024.
Mr Whyms stated that the tragic event of May 2024 put something like the row over the engagement ring in context.
Mr Whyms said that Mr Molloy’s attitude to life has changed over what is important and what is not important.
He said the Molloys have three children and are expecting another baby next month. Mr Whyms said that his client is very remorseful for his actions and has engaged well with the Probation Service.
