*Trevor Quinn at Ennis Court
An Ennis teenager charged in connection with a broad daylight machete attack has secured consent to bail in the High Court on condition that he remain out of Co Clare, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court today, solicitor, Daragh Hassett said that his client, Trevor Quinn (18) has obtained consent to bail in the High Court and is waiting to take up bail once Gardai approve an address in west Dublin he is due to stay at.
Mr Hassett told the court that he also anticipates an additional charge in the case.
Mr Hassett said that the bail conditions for Mr Quinn of Hermitage, Ennis “ties him down”.
Mr Quinn has been on remand at Limerick prison since November 21st after being charged in connection with an alleged ‘random’ broad daylight machete attack on Shane Tuohy on Ennis’s Mill Rd at 3.30 pm on November 20th.
Mr Quinn was refused bail in the district court and Mr Hassett said that for two and a half weeks of his time on remand, Mr Quinn had been sleeping on a mattress on a floor in prison.
Mr Hassett previously said that his client “has never been in custody, never been charged and never before been a participant in the court system”.
Mr Quinn was appearing in person in court today and Sgt Shane Graham said that the Garda file in the case is nearly complete to be sent off to the DPP.
Sgt Graham said that when directions come back from the DPP, Gardai will know then about any additional charge.
Judge Gabbett extended legal aid certificate to cover the cost of a psychiatric evaluation.
Judge Gabbett said that Mr Quinn need only come from Dublin for the next court sitting if there is a new charge “for his own safety”.
Judge Gabbett said: “If he has to be here, he is to be escorted in. I would prefer if he wasn’t here. That is for his sake.”
In the case, 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.
In court in November, Judge Gabbett refused bail to Mr Quinn after viewing photos of the alleged machete injuries to Mr Tuohy’s neck and ear.
Judge 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 Gardai.
During the contested bail hearing, 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 remanded Mr Quinn to re-appear before court on January 22nd and excused his attendance if there is no new charge.
