Tag Archives: Judge Mary Larkin

A MAN accused of repeatedly hitting his wife and dragging her across the kitchen floor during an alleged assault in Clare has been refused bail, writes Ronan Judge. The alleged incident occurred at the couple’s home address in Clare on Tuesday. A 38-year-old-man was brought before an in-camera sitting of Ennis District Court this week charged with assault causing harm to his wife. He is also charged with possession of a small amount of cannabis. Both charges arise from an alleged incident at a house in Clare on Tuesday, February 15. A local garda gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. The court heard that in reply to one of the charges, the accused man said, “It’s everything, correct”. Solicitor Tara Godfrey was assigned legal aid to represent the accused and she said her client was applying for bail. The application was opposed by the State. The garda said bail was opposed on a number of grounds including the seriousness …

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 WOMAN has pleaded guilty to the theft of flowers, ornaments and other items from graveyards in Clare, writes Ronan Judge. Mairead O’Sullivan committed the thefts over a year long period between 2020 and 2021. At Killaloe District Court, Ms O’Sullivan, with an address at Fergus View, Cappahard, Tulla Road Ennis, entered guilty pleas to 18 charges of theft. The offences were carried out between May 2020 and April 2021 at Tulla graveyard and Druncliffe and Templemaley graveyards near Ennis. The total value of the items stolen was €597.50. The majority of the thefts occurred at Tulla graveyard. Among the items stolen by O’Sullivan were flowers, rose bushes, glass lamps and wicker boxes. (Read Fiona McGarry interview with one of the people affected by the thefts here) One of the thefts – that of ornamental barrels and flowers – took place between the hours of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2020 at Tulla graveyard. The court heard that 14 people …

A RACEHORSE trainer who was last year banned from the sport for animal welfare abuses has avoided jail following conviction over his dogs killing a neighbour’s sheep. Stephen Mahon, 53, was spared a prison sentence after paying out €6,500 compensation to a 67-year-old farmer left ‘brokenhearted’ by sheep kills over the years. At Gort District Court, Judge Mary Larkin made the judgement after the compensation payout to John Moran who has been farming for 52 years. Judge Larkin said: “If Mr Mahon hadn’t paid the compensation, he would definitely be going to jail.” Judge Larkin made her comment after imposing cumulative fines of €1,350 on Mr Mahon of The Ranch, Kilcolgan, concerning a sheep kill on June 3 2018 at Caherpeak, Kilcolgan, involving two dogs, a Rottweiler and a Terrier belonging to him. Judge Larkin imposed six separate fines concerning six separate offences concerning the two dogs. The largest fine of €500 concerned Mr Mahon being an owner of a …

A BROTHER and sister threw up to 32 eggs at their aunt during a five minute long ‘egg assault’ on her outside their south Galway home two years ago, a court has heard. At Gort District Court, Mary Fahy said that her face got ‘banged’ and ‘bashed’ with the eggs thrown by her nephew and niece, Cathal Connors (25) and Michelle Connors (20) both of Fannaun, Peterswell in south Galway while she was driving past their home at around 6.30pm on October 17 2019. Mrs Fahy told the court, “It was bang, bang, bang, bang. I thought they were stones and they continued for five minutes or thereabouts and banging eggs off my face.” She told the court that her niece and nephew threw “a dozen and a score of eggs” at her adding that she saw Michelle and Cathal Connors “running out from the front door – they obviously had it set up”. Cathal and Michelle Connors each denied …

A JUDGE has ordered that three young children who are alleged to have been stripped and flogged by their father will remain in State care for a further year. At the family law court in Ennis, Judge Mary Larkin extended the Interim Care Order (ICO) for the three children to October 2022 after a TUSLA social worker told the judge that the welfare and health of the children would be put at adverse risk if the court didn’t grant the order. The social worker told Judge Larkin that a Garda file concerning the allegations against the father is currently with the DPP. As part of a Garda investigation, the children were interviewed by specialist Garda interviewers. The children were removed from the care of their parents in September 2020 and have been cared for by foster carers on behalf of TUSLA since. Judge Larkin first granted the ICO last September after hearing that the couple’s son told a Childcare Support …

A JUDGE has given the go-ahead for a Covid-19 vaccine to be administered to a disabled 15-year-old boy against the wishes of the boy’s mother, writes Gordon Deegan. At the Family Law Court in Ennis, Judge Mary Larkin has used a provision in the Child Care Act to allow the Child and Family Agency (CFA) to proceed with the vaccination of the teenager. Solicitor for the CFA, Muiris Gavin told Judge Larkin that the boy’s mother was opposed to him being vaccinated. Judge Larkin granted the order to the CFA under Section 47 of the Childcare Act after the boy’s GP in a letter stated that due to his disabilities the boy “is at risk of serious and potentially fatal complications should he contract the Covid 19 infection”. The court heard that the boy has told his dedicated social worker that he wants the vaccine so that he can go out to town and the cinema again. Judge Larkin said …

A DRIVER who performed “donuts” at a crossroads while up to 15 cars blocked all four access roads has received a driving ban, writes Ronan Judge. The “organised” drifting event occurred close to Lemenagh Castle near Corofin last November, Ennis District Court heard. Judge Mary Larkin said of the incident, “This was an organised event. It was dangerous. There is no other way about it. It was dangerous.” Garda James O’Donoghue told the court he and colleagues responded to a report of “boy racers drifting” near Lemenagh north, Corofin at around 1.45am on November 22, 2020. The garda said he heard the “extremely loud noise” of screeching tyres at the scene. The garda said he exited the patrol van and observed two cars performing donuts at a crossroads. He told the court the cars were surrounded by a group of up to 15 other cars that were blocking all access to the crossroads. A number of the people were standing …