*John Paul Avenue.
AN Ennis man charged in connection with two alleged unlawful discharges of a shotgun close to a Cloughleigh housing estate and primary school almost four years ago has been returned for trial.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Adrian Harris has returned James Keenan (53) of John Paul Avenue, Ennis for trial to Ennis Circuit Court.
Mr Keenan is facing five charges from the two alleged unlawful shotgun discharges in Ennis on November 30th 2022.
Mr Keenan is currently on High Court bail and the High Court bail conditions included Judge Harris approving Mr Keenan’s daughter, Kathleen Keenan as providing an independent surety of €12,000.
Before sending Mr Keenan forward to the Circuit Court, Judge Harris issued the alibi warning to Mr Keenan that if an alibi formed any part of his defence that his solicitor, Ms Tara Godfrey had fourteen days in which to inform the State.
Ms Godfrey asked that Mr Keenan’s bail conditions be relaxed over three days in November to allow him attend a wedding in Salthill and Judge Harris said that Ms Godfrey could make that application to Ennis Circuit Court.
Judge Harris also extended the legal aid certificate for a junior counsel to also represent Mr Keenan in the Circuit Court.
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.
