Four men charged with offences linked to feud between families in Charleville

Four men have appeared in court charged with a series of offences arising from an investigation into a feud between two rival families in Charleville, Co Cork which has seen houses and cars damaged in a series of attacks.

The four men were brought before Midleton District Court where Judge Colm Roberts was told that the charges arose from an investigation into a serious feud between the O’Driscoll and O’Neill families in Charleville which had been ongoing for the past six weeks.

Det Garda Gary Costello said gardaí feared the feud would escalate and that further offences would be committed when he objected to bail for John Meehan (23), who was an associate of the O’Driscolls.

“The accused is involved in a feud between the O’Neill and O’Driscoll families. There have been multiple incidents of criminal damage in this feud and the level of violence has escalated and there is a risk of somebody suffering serious bodily harm if it continues,” said Det Garda Costello.

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Mr Meehan, of Corrin View, Ballyhea, Co Cork, was charged with causing criminal damage to a door and window of a house belonging to Mark O’Neill at Batt Donegan Place, Charleville on January 8th and possession of a slash hook on the same occasion.

Charlie O’Connor, solicitor for Mr Meehan, applied for bail and his client strongly denied any involvement in the feud. He denied being present when the two offences with which he was charged were allegedly committed.

However, Det Garda Costello said gardaí were objecting to bail given the seriousness of the charge and the strength of the evidence in the case. He said two witnesses had made statements identifying Mr Meehan as the man who had committed the offences.

Mr Meehan took the witness box and told Judge Roberts “I wasn’t there, I wasn’t present – I have nothing at all to do with it”. The judge said he was satisfied that garda concerns about the feud escalating were well grounded and that carrying a slash hook was a serious matter.

He said that in the circumstances he had no other option but to remand Mr Meehan in custody to appear again at Mallow District Court on January 16th. He granted the accused free legal aid and assigned Mr O’Connor to represent him.

Earlier, Sonny O’Neill (45), of St Brendan’s Drive, Charleville, and Mark O’Neill (43), of Batt Donegan Place, Charleville, were charged with causing criminal damage to a car at Ballysalagh, Charleville on January 4th contrary to Section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act.

Det Garda Paul O’Shea of Mallow Garda station said Sonny O’Neill made no reply to the charge when it was put to him after caution. Det Garda Brendan Dunne of Kanturk Garda station said Mark O’Neill replied “never happened” when the charge was put to him after caution.

Mark O’Neill’s son, Davey (19), of Batt Donegan Place, was charged with causing criminal damage to a car at Ballysallagh on January 3rd and with making a threat at Gough’s Pub, Main Street, Charleville on March 5th last that he would damage property.

Garda Tracey Gleeson of Charleville Garda station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Davey O’Neill and said the accused made no reply to either charge when they were put to him after caution.

Judge Roberts granted Sonny O’Neill bail on condition that he sign on daily at Charleville Garda station, abide by a curfew, stay away and have no contact directly or indirectly with the injured party in the case and stay off social media, be sober in public and contactable on a mobile phone at all times.

He also granted Mark O’Neill and Davey O’Neill bail on similar terms, though he excused Davey O’Neill from having to sign on daily at Charleville Garda station and the requirement to be sober in a public place after Garda Gleeson said such a condition was not necessary in his case.

Judge Roberts remanded all three O’Neills to appear again at Mallow District Court on January 23rd. He granted all three free legal aid, assigning solicitors Joe Cuddigan and Don Ryan to represent them.