5 jailed after clash between Travelling families

Five men who were involved in a major row between two rival families in Ennis yesterday have been jailed or detained.

After hearing evidence of the clash between the Doherty and McDonagh Travelling families, Judge Albert O'Dea said it was the fourth row between the families that had been brought before the court recently.

Before imposing prison terms on two of the defendants at Ennis District Court, Judge O'Dea said: "Drastic action has to be taken, otherwise there will be serious consequences and we could have people up here on a murder charge."

Insp Michael Barry told the court i held the very, very serious view that there could be far-reaching consequences and that the matter was far from finished.

The court was told extra gardai from outside the Clare division had been brought in to deal with the incidents that occurred outside the Auburn Lodge Hotel, where a Country and Western music concert had been attended by both families.

One man remained in Ennis General Hospital yesterday with leg injuries arising from the row.

Mr John Casey, solicitor for Martin and John Doherty, said both sides had agreed not to give evidence against each other after a meeting between the respective heads of the two families before the court case. The court heard from one garda that, had there been more Garda resources, there would have been a lot more people facing charges.

A claim that the row was spontaneous was rejected by Insp Barry, who said gardai had prior knowledge of the row and extra resources had been put in place.

When asked to give evidence against Joseph McDonagh (27), who was charged with assaulting him, Martin Doherty said he had not been assaulted. Doherty made the same response when asked to give evidence of an assault committed on him by Gerard McDonagh (18).

However, Judge O'Dea convicted both McDonaghs of assault after hearing Garda evidence that assaults had taken place.

A three-month jail sentence was imposed on Joseph McDonagh, while Gerard McDonagh was given a three-month detention period.

Martin Doherty received a six-month jail term for assault, while two other members of the McDonagh family received detention periods: Martin Joseph McDonagh received four months while Thomas McDonagh received a two-month period.

Three men received fines ranging from £200 to £400 while another was given the Probation Act.