A FATHER was out walking with his two young children in Ennis town centre last week when he was allegedly assaulted by his first cousin armed with a long handle slash-hook, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, Garda Alan Hill said that the alleged daylight assault by Peter Molloy (22) – who was wearing a red Man Utd replica top at the time – with a long handle slash-hook on his cousin, Eamon Quinn at Simms Lane, Buttermarket, Ennis shortly after 2pm is part of an ongoing feud between the Molloy and Quinn families.
Garda Hill told the court that Mr Quinn suffered lacerations to his left arm and right leg from the alleged assault. He said the two men “are well known to each other as they are first cousins”.
Garda Hill told the court that the incident “is one of a number of instances being investigated in an ongoing feud between the Molloys and the Quinns”. Garda Hill said that “tensions are currently very high” in the feud.
He said, “There have been postings put up on social media of retaliatory videos stating that there would be repercussions for Mr Molloy’s arrest and this charging.”
Garda Hill also stated that 30 minutes before court, members of the Molloy family turned up at the courthouse and were making threats to Mr Quinn to drop the charges.
CCTV footage of the slash hook incident is very clear and very good quality, Garda Hill added.
Mr Molloy of Ballaghboy, Doora, Quin Road, Ennis, is charged with the assault causing harm of Mr Quinn on January 23 and one count of producing a slash hook during the course of a dispute.
In evidence at a contested bail hearing for Mr Molloy, Mr Quinn told the court, “I am fear for my life from the whole lot of them, not just him. If he is let out on the streets, I wouldn’t feel safe.”
Seeking bail for his client, Daragh Hassett told the court Mr Molloy has no previous convictions apart from one minor matter and is the father of three young children, aged four, two and three months.
Mr Hassett said that Mr Molloy has a very good record, has been very law abiding and is very trustworthy and asked Judge Mary Larkin to place her trust in his client to obey all bail conditions.
Mr Hassett said that Mr Molloy has the presumption of innocence concerning the charges before the court.
The solicitor added that Mr Molloy has never breached bail or taken a bench warrant, has had very little involvement in the criminal justice system and went himself to Ennis Garda Station after the incident.
Garda Hill told the court that no bail conditions would satisfy the Gardai.
Mr Hassett told Mr Quinn that his own family have been putting up posts on social media stating that if Mr Molloy is remanded in custody to Limerick prison “he won’t be safe”. Mr Quinn said that he was not aware of that.
In evidence, Mr Molloy told the court that he was in contact with Mr Quinn’s father before he was charged and he told the court “I would like to make peace” and the word back from Eamon Quinn was “there is no peace”.
Judge Larkin refused bail and remanded Mr Molloy to appear via video link from prison at Ennis District Court on this Tuesday, February 1.
Judge Larkin said: “I don’t like refusing bail but I have to consider the prevention of further serious crime.”