A JUDGE has jailed a Shannon man for 22 months for slashing a mother of five with a Stanley knife and smashing glass in a caravan close to where her two week old baby lay during a violent disorder incident.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed the 22 month jail term on Bernard McDonagh (32) of St Helen’s Park, Ballymurtagh, Shannon for his role in the violent order incident in Shannon as part of a feud with another family in January 20th 2021.
In sentencing, Judge Comerford has jailed four members of the McDonagh family for the violent disorder incident and said that the four continued their violent disorder knowing that there were only women and children from the other side present.
Judge Comerford said that “this was a premeditated act of violent disorder intended to intimidate people where there were only women and children present”.
Judge Comerford said that the men had implements that were sufficient to damage “and weapons with potential to damage property or people”.
Judge Comerford said that there had been no remorse shown by the accused or an apology to the victims.
Judge Comerford said that Bernard McDonagh was the most culpable of the five members of the McDonagh family before the court and it was his third conviction for violent disorder and third conviction for assault causing harm in the feud.
As part of her victim impact statement, Victoria Keenan said that she was ‘helpless’ when a group of Shannon men attacked a caravan that at the time was occupied by her two week old baby and her four other small children.
Ms Keenan said that her then two week old baby was on top of the bed at the time and “as a mother I felt helpless and I will never get over how a group of men could treat a woman with five small babies”.
She said, “I got assaulted when trying to save my babies from what was happening”.
At the sentencing hearing, Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan said that the attack on the caravan was the third time that members of the McDonagh family had been found guilty of violent disorder as part of ongoing issues between the McDonagh family from Ballymurtagh in Shannon and the Harty-Keenan family from Co Limerick who have family members living in Sixmilebridge.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said that convictions have been recorded against members of the McDonagh family from two previous violent incidents at the Oakwood Hotel in Shannon in 2018 and Supermacs in Shannon in 2019.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said that in January 2021, members of the Harty Keenan family moved to a site at Illaunmanagh, Shannon “and tensions rose again”.
In sentencing, Judge Comerford said that Bernard McDonagh shattered the glass in close proximity to where the two week old baby was and slashed the mother of the baby, Victoria Keenan with a Stanley knife across the arm.
Judge Comerford said that the act of violent disorder goes beyond the mid-range level.
Judge Comerford imposed a prison sentence of 72 months on Bernard McDonagh with the last 50 months suspended resulting in jail time of 22 months.
Judge Comerford said that it may be too lenient and said that he took the impact on Mr McDonagh’s five children into account.
Judge Comerford imposed a 13 month jail term on Thomas McDonagh (24) of Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon, after giving Thomas McDonagh a 57 month prison term and suspended the final 44 months.
Judge Comerford imposed an 18 month jail term on John McDonagh Jnr (26) of Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon after handing out a 61 month prison term and suspending the final 43 months.
Judge Comerford imposed a one year jail term on Patrick McDonagh (29) of St Helen’s Park, Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon after sentencing him to 54 months with the final 42 months suspended.
Judge Comerford said that he wasn’t jailing John McDonagh Snr as he has no previous conviction for violent disorder and none relating to the feud.
Judge Comerford imposed a 49 month suspended prison term on John McDonagh Snr (40) of Ballymurtagh halting site, Shannon and ordered him to donate €5,000 to the St Vincent de Paul in Shannon.
Judge Comerford backdated Bernard McDonagh’s and John McDonagh Jnr’s jail terms to February when they were first remanded in custody.
