Tag Archives: Clare circuit court

AN Ennis court has heard allegations of “a significant fraud ring” involving members of the Romanian and Traveller communities in Clare and Galway, writes Gordon Deegan. At Ennis Circuit Court, counsel for Aviva Insurance Ireland, John Hogan BL said that he was making the claim on behalf of his client. He said that he would be calling evidence concerning the so-called fraud ring of around 60 claims arising from 16 separate accidents. In the case, Aviva was contesting liability in the personal injury action being taken by Ennis mother-of-five, Keelie Stratton (36) arising from a June 2013 road traffic accident in Ennis. Ms Stratton – who previously lived in England – confirmed to Mr Hogan that she had no knowledge of the existence of the alleged fraud ring involving Romanians and Travellers. In support of his ‘fraud ring’ claim, Mr Hogan began to unroll a laminated chart for the court and before he had done so, Judge Brian O’Callaghan interjected …

A MAN has been found guilty of a knife attack in Ennis that left the victim with a 20cm wound and the feeling that his face was “falling off”, writes Ronan Judge. At Ennis Circuit Court, a jury returned two guilty verdicts at the end of the trial of William McDonagh (30). McDonagh, with an addresses at Hazelbrook House, lower Gardiner street, Dublin and Clancy Park, Ennis, pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Wayne Higgins and the production of a kitchen knife during the course of the assault. Both counts arose from an incident that occurred in the Hermitage area of Ennis on the night of February 10, 2019. The two-day trial was heard before Judge Brian O’Callaghan last week. In evidence, Wayne Higgins (24), originally from Kilmaley and who has lived in Ennis, told the jury that he had been staying at the Laurel Lodge homeless hostel around the time of the assault. Mr Higgins said that …

The award had been made after the man’s daughter had been enrolled in a secondary school without him being consulted, writes Gordon Deegan A JUDGE has overturned a state watchdog ruling that a Clare father was discriminated against because he was a man in a row over his daughter’s school enrolment. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan stated that he could find no evidence that the father was discriminated against by the Clare secondary school’s Board of Management concerning his daughter’s enrolment, because he was a man. The ruling by Judge O’Callaghan also overturns the €3,500 award made to the man two years ago at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) concerning his Equal Status discrimination claim. The case came before the Circuit Court following the school board of management appealing the WRC ruling from 2019. Counsel for the school board of management told Judge O’Callaghan that the judgement “was a very important judgement not just for parties involved but …

A NUMBER of criminal trials due to be heard in Clare this year could be transferred to Dublin due to ongoing Covid-19 regulations, writes Ronan Judge. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan said the court is not in a position to deal with trials that involve more than one accused person. Judge O’Callaghan said the two metre rule will apply at Ennis Courthouse for trials that are due to commence at Ennis Circuit Court next month. Judge O’Callaghan also told those required to attend trials to wrap up warm as windows and doors are due to be left open to allow for ventilation of the courthouse. Judge O’Callaghan said this had not been an issue during the court’s summer sittings but the situation will be quite different in October, November and December. “Please feel free to wear any warm clothing you wish.” The judge was speaking on Wednesday at a call-over of cases at Ennis Circuit Court. A number …

A MILTOWN Malbay man has been found not guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of his friend in a single-vehicle collision three years ago. The jury returned the verdict at Ennis Circuit Court at the conclusion of the trial of Tadgh O’Neill. Mr O’Neill (22), with an address at Poulawilliam, Miltown Malbay, and who previously lived and worked in Glasgow and London, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Inagh man Alan Rynne (30) at Caherogan, near Miltown Malbay on June 18, 2018. At the outset of the trial, Mr O’Neill pleaded guilty to driving while in excess of the legal alcohol limit and driving without insurance. He is due to be sentenced for those offences on July 22. Mr Rynne was a back seat passenger in a Volkswagen Golf driven by Mr O’Neill when it crashed into a bridge on a country road in the early hours of June 18, 2018. Members of Mr O’Neill’s …

A JUDGE has praised an Ennis personal fitness trainer for posting workout videos of himself on Facebook and Instagram shortly after sustaining injuries when a taxi driver drove at him, writes Gordon Deegan. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan stated that it is to Kris Flynn’s credit and not to his debit that he was out promoting himself online so soon after a traffic incident in the Aldi car park in Ennis on June 11 2017. Judge O’Callaghan made his comments before awarding €18,500 in general damages to Mr Flynn (36) of Cappahard, Ennis for the back, neck and shoulder injuries sustained and an additional €1,720 for medical and physio expenses. An investigator employed by the taxi-driver, Michael Maher’s insurers played a showreel of Mr Flynn working out at a gym lifting various weights to the court. Two were posted the same day of the incident and counsel for Mr Maher’s insurers, Donal O’Rourke BL stated that the videos …