Tag Archives: Clare circuit court

A CLARE man convicted of indecently assaulting three female relatives will be sentenced in March. The 61-year-old man appeared before Ennis circuit court last week via video-link from prison. The man has been on remand since being found by guilty by a jury at the end of his trial in November. The man had pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of indecent assault of three girls at locations in Clare between 1983 and 1989. He denied abusing two of his sisters-in-law and their cousin. Seven of the charges concern one of the women, 23 charges relate to her younger sister and the remaining four charges relate to their cousin. The case is subject to reporting restrictions. In court, Judge Francis Comerford set March 7, 2023, as the date for the man’s sentencing hearing. The man told the court he wished to appear at the hearing via video-link and not in person, in court. Judge Comerford remanded the man in custody …

A 65-YEAR-OLD man who was found by gardaí late at night in his car in a secluded rural location in Clare with a vulnerable 15-year-old girl and a box of Viagra tablets has been sentenced to 11 months in prison. At Ennis circuit court, Judge Francis Comerford said it was “praiseworthy that gardaí were able to intervene” in the incident that took place at McNamara’s lake, O’Briensbridge in the early hours of August 23, 2017. Details of the incident were heard at the sentencing hearing of Pat Barry (65). Barry, a retired stable hand with an address at Garryglass Avenue, Rosbrien, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a single count of sexual assault. Judge Francis Comerford imposed a 20-month prison sentence with the final nine months suspended for what he called a “sexual assault, without consent, on a vulnerable young child”. Garda Áine Troy told prosecuting counsel, Lorcan Connolly BL she had two other colleagues were on patrol on the date in …

A CLARE man has pleaded guilty to a drugs offence that carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence. Daniel O’Connell (32), with an address at Ballybrack, Clonlara, was arraigned before Ennis circuit court this week.  He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs – ketamine, cannabis and MMDA – at a time when the value of the drugs amounted to €13,000 or more.  The offence, which is contrary to section 15 (a) of the misuse of drugs act, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.  A judge does have discretion not to apply the 10-year term if exceptional circumstances exist in the case.  O’Connell also pleaded guilty to possession of the hallucinogenic drug, DMT, contrary to section 3 of the misuse of the drugs act.  Both charges relate to a search carried out by gardaí in Ballybrack, Clonlara, on July 17, 2020.  Counsel for the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Lorcan Connolly BL, told the court the plea was acceptable …

A MAN has appeared in court charged in connection with a fatal road crash that claimed the life of a Clare woman earlier this year. Damien McNamara (38) appeared before Ennis District Court this Wednesday charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Stephanie Fitzpatrick, at Cloonaveigh, Lahinch Road, near Ennistymon on February 19, 2022.  Ms Fitzpatrick, who was from Lisdoonvarna, was a front seat passenger in the car when the collision occurred. In court this Wednesday, Sergeant David O’Connor of Ennistymon garda station gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Damien McNamara.  McNamara, with an address at Lissatunna, Ennistymon, made no reply to the single charge when it was put to him, the court heard.  Solicitor Daragh Hassett was assigned legal aid to represent the accused. Mr Hassett told the court he had no questions regarding the arrest, charge and caution of his client. Sergeant Aiden Longeran said gardaí had no objections to bail subject to the …

A JUDGE has jailed recent Irish Traveller Pride Award winner and well known rapper, William Casey (30) for careless driving causing the death of a passenger in his car. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan imposed a 15-month prison term, suspending the final 12 months, on Mr Casey of O’Briensbridge in south east Clare. Judge O’Callaghan also imposed a four-year driving ban on Mr Casey. Earlier this month, Mr Casey, better known as rapper, Willzee won the Music, Arts and Culture award at the Irish Traveller Pride Awards. Judge O’Callghan said that the case involved ‘aggravating factor after aggravating factor’ and said that Mr Casey had maintained a lie that the now deceased Christopher Moran was the driver of the car when, in fact, Mr Casey was the driver in the single vehicle crash at Ardclooney, Killaloe in east Clare on November 7 2017 in which Mr Moran was seriously injured. Judge O’Callghan said that Mr Casey “is now fully …

A MART operator has been ordered to pay €10,000 in personal damages to a young female Limerick dairy farmer from injuries she sustained after a one ton bull escaped from a pen at Ennis Mart five years ago. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Colin Daly has ordered Clare Co-Operative Marts to pay Rose Keating (28) €10,000 for the incident on May 25 2017 that left three other people injured by the Charolais bull. Judge Daly stated that the appropriate general damages in the case was €20,000. However, he halved the pay-out to €10,000 after finding that Ms Keating was 50pc responsible for the injuries she suffered. Judge Daly made this finding after concluding on the balance of probabilities Ms Keating opened the latch to the pen that allowed the bull escape. In evidence, Ms Keating had denied opening the gate that allowed the bull escape. Judge Daly made the award after Ms Keating earlier rejected a settlement offer by Clare …

A MEDICAL professional is to be sent forward for trial to the circuit court concerning the alleged farm-yard assault on his younger brother, writes Gordon Deegan. That is according to Sergeant Aiden Lonergan who told Judge Mary Larkin at Ennis District Court that the DPP has directed that the case against Conor O’Halloran (39) is to proceed on indictment to the circuit court. Sergeant Lonergan said that a Book of Evidence will be prepared in the case where Conor O’Halloran is charged with the assault causing harm of his brother, Daniel O’Halloran (35). Any person convicted of such an offence in the circuit court can face a fine and/or a prison term up to five years. The court heard previously that farmer, Daniel O’Halloran (35) was left with a “large piece” of his ear missing after the alleged farm yard altercation with his brother, Conor O’Halloran at Liscullane, Tulla, Co. Clare on May 5 last. Solicitor for Conor O’Halloran, Edel …

A CIRCUIT court judge conducted court proceedings in the fresh air on the steps of a courthouse after hearing two accused men in a case were exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms, writes Gordon Deegan. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan transferred court proceedings from his courtroom to the steps of Ennis courthouse and its car park due to what he called “the Covid-19 circumstances in the case”. Shortly after 12.30pm this Monday afternoon, Judge O’Callaghan convened the court from the top of the courthouse steps for the arraignment of five men charged in respect of a violent disturbance at a charity kick-boxing event at a Shannon hotel three years ago. Video footage of the brawl at the Saturday night event was posted on social media soon after. At the bottom of the steps standing in the courthouse car park, five McDonagh men – all wearing masks – each replied ‘guilty’ when arraigned by the court registrar for the offences. At the …