*Trevor Quinn.
AN ENNIS teenager pleaded guilty to two charges in connection with a broad daylight machete attack that left his victim ‘3mm from death’ in the town.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday Trevor Quinn (18) pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm of Shane Tuohy on Ennis’s Cornmarket Street at 3.30 pm on November 20th last.
Mr Quinn of Hermitage, Ennis has also pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife at the same location on the same date.
Counsel for the State, Patrick Reynolds BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said that the two guilty pleas were acceptable to the State on a full facts basis.
Counsel for Mr Quinn, Patrick Whyms BL (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) told Judge Francis Comerford that the pleas were early as the case is a new return to the Circuit Court.
Mr Whyms said that his client is anxious for an early sentencing date as Mr Quinn has been in custody on this case alone since the day of the assault.
Mr Quinn who has no previous convictions was refused bail in the District Court but obtained consent to bail in the High Court on condition that he remain out of Co Clare.
However, Mr Quinn has remained in Limerick prison after a Dublin local authority objected to a bail address in Dublin.
After viewing photos of the machete injuries to Mr Tuohy’s neck and ear at a contested bail hearing at Ennis District Court last November, Judge Alec 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 Gardaí.
During the contested bail hearing, Judge Gabbett said that “the damage done is extraordinary”.
He said, “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 said that the photos of the alleged injuries suffered show that they “were made with an extremely sharp implement with almost surgical precision”.
Judge Gabbett on Tuesday fixed a sentencing date of May 13th and further remanded Mr Quinn in custody to that date.
