Tag Archives: Judge Mary Larkin

A MAN has appeared in court charged in connection with two alleged assaults in Ennis town centre last week. Ennis District Court heard further serious charges maybe be considered against Stanislav Koniukhov (51) who is also charged with the unlawful possession of three “dagger-type knives”. Koniukhov, a Russian national with former addresses at the Citywest convention centre, Dublin and in Ennis, was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again in court on December 7.  The accused faces two charges of assaulting of Philip Brosnan, contrary to section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act.  It is alleged Koniukhov attacked Mr Brosnan at the Rowan Tree hostel on November 23.  Koniukhov is also charged with stealing a register of residents from the Rowan Tree hostel, also on November 23.  The accused is further charged with possession of three Albaniox, dagger-type knives, after he was searched at Henry Street garda station, Limerick on November 24.  That …

A 34-year old west Clare mother has narrowly avoided jail after being convicted of driving with no insurance for the 26th time. At Kilrush District Court, Judge Mary Larkin imposed 320 hours of community service and also imposed one four-month suspended prison term and one three-month suspended prison term on Caitriona Kennedy for her four latest no insurance convictions. Judge Larkin also imposed a two-year driving ban on Ms Kennedy of Church Street, Miltown Malbay on each no insurance conviction. Ms Kennedy has 86 previous convictions in total. Sergeant Louis Moloney told the court that at Limerick Circuit Court last month, Ms Kennedy was banned from driving for 15 years concerning a no insurance offence and also received a three-month prison term. Ms Kennedy was heavily pregnant at the time and has since had her baby and the court was told by Sergeant Moloney that Ms Kennedy was released from custody the same day in Limerick. Judge Larkin stated that …

A judge has told an 80-year-old Clare farmer to keep the peace and to wait for a court to rule on a long running right of way dispute. At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin told Martin Neylon that he “can’t be calling out Garda Andrew Monahan every two minutes to be sorting out your difficulties”. Judge Larkin told Mr Neylon: “You have to keep the peace between now and then.” Judge Larkin told Mr Neylon to open a gate across a disputed right of way between 12pm and 2pm every day to allow farmer, Donal O’Brien to access his lands pending a circuit court determination in the right of way row. After Mr Neylon told Judge Larkin that he is 80, Judge Larkin said to him “and this is what you are fighting about at your age?” Garda Andrew Monahan told the court that Mr Neylon believes that he has waited long enough for the circuit court to decide …

A JUDGE has been asked to dismiss a mart assault charge against farmer son of EuroMillions winner, Dolores McNamara. At Ennis District Court, solicitor Daragh Hassett made the application to Judge Mary Larkin for the case dismissal against his client, Gary McNamara after the alleged injured party failed to show up to court for the contested assault case. In the case, Gary McNamara (43) of Ruan Manor, Ruan, Castleconnell, Co Limerick denies the minor assault charge on Bernard Earley at Ennis Mart on August 17 2021. After Mr Earley failed to attend, Mr Hassett told Judge Larkin, “I am asking for the case to be dismissed.” He said, “Myself and my client have a certain view of the alleged injured party in this case in relation to his motives.” Mr Hassett said that after the last call-over of cases in September, the case was reported in the media. Mr Hassett there after the case was reported on, there was a phone call from …

A MAN kicked in the door of woman’s bedroom and assaulted her just over a month before murdering another woman in Ennis, a court has heard. Patrick Ballard (35) is serving a life sentence for the murder of mother of two Sharon Bennett (29) in the market area of Ennis on January 28, 2021. Ballard, with former addresses at the Ashford Court hotel, Ennis, appeared before Ennis district this week to be sentenced for offences he committed in the town on December 23, 2020. He pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage and one charge of assaulting a woman, all relating to offences at a house in Park Avenue, Clonroad, Ennis. The court heard Ballard has 140 previous convictions including four for assault and nine for criminal damage. Judge Mary Larkin said the accused’s criminal record has to be considered “quite significant”. Of the assault Ballard committed in December 2020, Judge Larkin said, “This woman was attacked in her …

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 CLARE man with a “history of significant involvement in the drugs trade” has received a three-month prison sentence. At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin imposed the sentence on Martin O’Brien (41) for obstructing a garda during a search of house in Sixmilebridge last year. O’Brien, a father of six with an address at the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, pleaded not guilty to obstruction and another charge arising from a money-laundering related offence. Both charges relate to a garda search of a house in Sixmilebridge on February 11, 2021. The court heard members of the Clare garda divisional drugs unit, supported by the armed support unit, executed a warrant at the property. O’Brien told gardaí he was present at the house to buy a car for his daughter. After a hearing of the case, Judge Larkin said she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt O’Brien had obstructed a garda during the exercise of his duty. Judge Larkin said she was …

A FATHER and son have narrowly avoided jail for their role in a chaotic late night farm yard scene compared by a judge to something from the Wild West. At Kilrush District Court on Tuesday, Judge Mary Larkin imposed prison terms on Denis Waters (53) and his son, Brian Waters (25) after they confronted Gardai with a pitch fork and a calving jack during a late night incident at Derreen, Tullycrine near Kilrush on October 26 last year. Judge Larkin imposed a six-month prison term on Denis Waters and a three-month prison term on his son, Brian. However, Judge Larkin imposed community service orders in lieu of the prison terms after the Probation Service deemed both father and son suitable for community work. Judge Larkin has ordered Denis Waters to carry out 160 hours community work and Brian Waters 120 hours community work in lieu of the prison terms. Judge Larkin said that Denis Waters “has primary responsibility” for the …