*The attack targeted a house at Pearse Avenue in Cloughleigh.ย
A JUDGE has jailed an Ennis man for four years and ten months for a firebomb attack โon a house full of childrenโ in 2021.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford has imposed the four year and 10 month prison term on Martin Mongans (35) for the reckless endangerment offence when firing a shot-gun and throwing at petrol bomb at the OโLoughlin home at 25 Pearse Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis just after midnight on November 22nd 2021.
Imposing sentence, Judge Comerford said that Mr Mongans of College Grove, Ennis had firebombed a house and used a shot-gun on a house where very young children were present.
Judge Comerford said that Mr Mongansโ โplanned and premeditated attack on a house full of childrenโ merits a heavy prison sentence in order to deter others carrying out such attacks.
Judge Comerford said that no one suffered any physical injuries from the attack but the attack โdid put eight children at riskโ.
Judge Comerford said that Mr Mongans had entered a late plea of guilty to the offence which, he said, had occurred during a suspended sentence that Mr Mongans was serving.
Suellen Keenan (33) of Ardarra, Portroe, Co Tipperary had prior knowledge of the planned attack and has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the crime.
Asked the connection between the two, Det Sgt John Casey told the court that the two are “brother in law/sister in law and they have a child together alsoโ.
In evidence, Det Sgt Casey told the sentencing hearing that there were seven OโLoughlin children in the house on November 22nd 2021 along with a 17-year old teenager who was a young brother of house-owner and father to the seven, John OโLoughlin.
Det Casey said that the ages of the OโLoughlin children at the time were eleven, nine, seven, six, five, three and one baby.
Det Casey said that all the children were asleep and their mother, Kelly-Anne OโLoughlin was upstairs while Mr OโLoughlin was downstairs watching Netflix shortly after midnight when a number of individuals pulled up outside the house and launched their attack on the house.
Det Sgt Casey said that initially John OโLoughlin saw Martin Mongans outside in possession of a pick axe and swiping at the front door and glass panel.
De Sgt Casey said that Mr OโLoughlin would have known Mr Mongans for a number of years and saw him go back to the edge of the driveway and throw a petrol bomb towards the house hitting a living room window with the petrol bomb partially igniting on a roller shutter.
Det Sgt Casey said that father of seven, Martin Mongans is then seen returning to a car where he retrieves a shotgun and fires a shot towards the house.
Det Casey said that Mr Mongans – who has 14 previous convictions – was accompanied by two other individuals and all three wearing masks fled the scene.
Det Casey said that the entire incident lasted just one minute and a half and the cost of the damage to the house totalled โฌ5,000. Det Casey said that two other un-used petrol bombs were recovered from the scene.
Asked what was the background to the dispute by State counsel, Lorcan Connolly BL, Det Casey said that Mr Mongans encountered Mr OโLoughlinโs wife in Ennis town centre and she didnโt like the way he looked at her and Mr OโLoughlin made a phone call to Mr Mongans to remonstrate about that.
He agreed with counsel for Mr Mongans, Brian McInerney SC that there was some suggestion by Mr O’Loughlin that the two have a bare knuckle fight in relation to this but it never took place.
In his victim impact statement read out in court, John OโLoughlin said that โsince this night I donโt feel safe anymore and I am in fear for my life and my familyโs lifeโ.
In her victim impact statement, Kelly Anne OโLpoughlin said that this attack occurred on a school night โand I believed this man tried to kill usโ.
The two O’Loughlins were in court for the sentencing hearing and Judge Comerford remanded Ms Keenan on bail for sentence to Wednesday.