TENSIONS are “extremely high” between two families alleged to be involved in a violent feud in Ennis, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court earlier this week, Garda Alan Burke said, “Tensions have been very high over the last couple of months between the two families.”

Garda Burke was giving evidence as the State objected to the granting of bail for Michael Doherty (22).

Doherty, with an address at St Michael ‘s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis, is charged with two offences arising from an incident at Hogan’s service station, Gort Road, on the outskirts of Ennis on November 18, 2022.

Doherty is charged with unlawful possession of a slash hook contrary to section 9 the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

He is also charged with breach of the peace contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.

The court heard Doherty replied “no” to each of the two charges, under caution.

Garda Burke said gardaí have secured CCTV footage of the incident and a weapon was found during a search of the Ballymaley halting site.

Asked by Judge Mary Larkin why Doherty allegedly entered the premises with a weapon, Garda Burke said a car carrying members of the accused’s family had been rammed by another vehicle, five minutes previously.

The garda said it will be alleged the incident is part of an ongoing feud between two Traveller families.

Sergeant Aiden Lonergan said bail was opposed on a number of grounds including the strength of the evidence and likely sentence on conviction.

Garda Burke said there are no bail conditions that would satisfy his concerns.

He said this is because “tensions are extremely high between both families and due to the seriousness of the incidents that are occurring”.

Defence solicitor, Daragh Hassett, said his client has lived in Ennis for nearly all of his life and would be willing to abide by a curfew and reside at his current address.

He said Mr Doherty is agreeing to “effectively stay under house arrest” until the resolution of the case.

Mr Hassett told the court his client has fully cooperated with the garda investigation so far.

He said Mr Doherty asked the manager of Hogan’s services station to preserve all cctv of the day of the incident.

Sergeant Lonergan said gardaí are concerned that if the accused was granted bail, his home would become a “target”.

Judge Larkin granted bail subject to conditions.

The accused must reside at his given address, sign on at Ennis garda station and have no contact with the other family alleged to be part of the feud.

Judge Larkin said, “If you see them on the street, you go the other way.”

Judge Larkin said the court also required an independent surety of €6000 with €3000 to be lodged in court.

Michael Doherty was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again in court in December 21.