A judge has approved, despite Garda objections, an Ennis woman to provide an independent surety for her father who is charged in connection with two alleged unlawful discharges of a shotgun close to an Ennis housing estate and primary school.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Adrian Harris has approved Kathleen Keenan as an independent surety for her father, James Keenan (53) of John Paul Avenue, Ennis who is in custody in connection with five charges from the two alleged unlawful shotgun discharges in Ennis on November 30th 2022.
Judge Harris approved Ms Keenan as an independent surety for her father despite objections from Det Garda Kevin Hooban to Ms Keenan providing the independent surety.
Mr Keenan was refused bail when first charged before the district court last month but did secure conditional bail in the High Court.
The conditions attached to the High Court bail included an independent surety of €12,000 and the person had to be approved by a judge of the district court.
Solicitor for Mr Keenan, Tara Godfrey put Ms Keenan forward as the independent surety stating that she is a housewife who lives at Shanballa on the Lahinch Rd in Ennis.
However, Det Garda Hooban objected, stating that Ms Keenan has 30 previous convictions that include convictions for theft and drugs possession.
Det Garda Hooban said that the €12,000 is quite a large sum “but might be a small price to help her father evade these charges”.
Det Hooban argued that Ms Keenan was not a suitable candidate for independent surety.
Ms Godfrey said that the last sizeable previous conviction committed by Ms Keenan was 10 years ago.
She said that others include breaking Covid-19 rules by attending a dwelling and 2023 being drunk in a public place.
Ms Godfrey said that Ms Keenan (32) has the €12,000 independent surety from a personal injuries action where she was awarded €13,000.
Ms Godfrey said that the €12,000 is nearly the entirety of her fortune and she is willing to lodge that for her father.
Ms Godfrey said that the loss of the money “would be significant to her”.
Judge Harris said that he would approve Ms Keenan as a surety and the size of the surety was something that was determined by the High Court.
Ms Godfrey said that approving Ms Keenan is one piece of the jigsaw in securing her client bail and there are other compliance pieces to be done.
Ms Godfrey said that she is waiting on a reply from Gardai in respect of an address that Mr Keenan can stay at while on bail.
Ms Godfrey said that her client has always indicated his intention to go forward for trial on a not guilty basis.
Judge Harris further remanded Mr Keenan in custody with consent to bail to appear at Ennis District Court next Wednesday.
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.
