Tag Archives: Judge Alec Gabbett

AN Ennis man who purchased a Toyota jeep for €43,000 in cash in €50 notes in February 2021 has made a renewed court bid to have Gardai return the jeep to him. At Ennis District Court this Wednesday, solicitor Daragh Hassett had before court a Police Property application on behalf of Ned Doherty (32) of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Gort Road, Ennis for the return of his 20-2 Toyota Hilux jeep. Unemployed at the time, Mr Doherty purchased the jeep in cash from a County Roscommon car dealer on February 23 2021 but it was seized 10 days later as part of a wider Garda operation that also involved the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) on March 5 2021. Mr Hassett told the court that the vehicle was seized almost two years ago and Mr Doherty has yet to be charged in relation to any offence or for any application to be made by the State to permanently seize the vehicle. …

A man accused of falsely imprisoning a woman at his home in Clare last month has been further remanded in custody. The 37-year-old man appeared at Ennis district court via video link from prison where is on remand. The case is subject to reporting restrictions, meaning the accused and the alleged victim cannot be identified. The man is charged that at his home in a rural area of Clare on November 9, 2022, he did falsely imprison a woman, contrary to section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act. Sergeant Aiden Lonergan said he had been told that the file in the matter will be with the director of public prosecutions (DPP) by the end of the week. Sergeant Lonergan said he was seeking a further adjournment to obtain DPP’s directions which will determine what court the trial will proceed in. Sergeant Lonergan asked that the accused be further remanded in custody to appear again in court …

A JUDGE has compared a bitter family row over a €1 million farm to John B Keane’s The Field and 1980s US TV soap opera, Dallas. At the Family Law Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his comments when dismissing a mother’s Barring Order and Safety Order applications against her farmer son. Judge Gabbett said that he was dismissing the entire domestic violence proceedings against the man “for the simple reason that this is a civil matter”. Judge Gabbett said, “It is unseemly and shouldn’t be before any domestic violence court.” The son – who has won awards for his farming – leases the farm from his mother after her husband and his father died a number of years ago leaving the farm to his widow. Solicitor for the son, Mairead Doyle told the court that the two have fallen out after the mother reneged on a written undertaking to voluntarily transfer the farm to her son. In evidence the son …

THE case of a man accused of using a hatchet to assault a man during an alleged incident in Kilkee is to proceed in the circuit court. At Ennis district court this week, Judge Alec Gabbett refused jurisdiction to hear the case against Andre Donegan (30). After hearing a summary of the alleged facts, Judge Alec Gabbett said, “I’m slow enough to accept jurisdiction where there is a hatchet. We may need the benefit of a jury. I’m going to refuse jurisdiction.” “It’s a serious matter, chasing a man down the street with a hatchet,” Judge Gabbet added. In the case, Andre Donegan, with an address at Smith’s Gardens, Kilkee, is charged with assault causing harm to Brian Clancy. Donegan is further charged with the production of hatchet during the course of a dispute, in a manner likely to intimidate or cause injury. Both charges arise from an alleged incident at St Patrick’s Terrace, Kilkee, on June 1, 2019. Donegan …

A MAN has appeared in court charged in connection with the discovery of a suspected quantity of cocaine in the Inch area last week. Dara Maloney (28) with an address at Drumcliff, Ennis, appeared at Ennis district court this Wednesday on two drugs-related charges. He is charged with possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine for the purposes of sale or supply. Both charges arise from the seizure by gardaí of a quantity of suspected drugs in Magowna on the outskirts of Ennis on September 9. A further, more serious, drug-related charge may be brought against the accused, the court heard. Detective Garda Seán O’Sullivan of Ennis garda station told the court that he arrested Maloney in Magowna on September 9 on suspicion of an offence contrary to the misuse of drugs act. The court heard the accused was charged at Ennis garda station on September 10. Maloney made no reply to the charges after caution. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett …