Judge criticises legal aid applicants driving 'exotic jeeps'

SOME APPLICANTS for legal aid can be found driving around in “exotic jeeps”, a District Court judge said yesterday.

Judge Eamon O’Brien was speaking at Ennis District Court where he demanded that individuals facing charges arising from an alleged feud between Traveller families in the town provide a statement of means to the court as part of their legal aid applications.

Making the request to a new solicitor, Michael McDarby, for the accused men, Judge O’Brien pointed out that the State’s finances were in a dire situation.

Appearing in court yesterday were six people charged in connection with the alleged feud.

They were Michael (36), Edward “Ned” (33), and David (24) McDonagh of John Paul Avenue, Ennis; Gerard McDonagh (26) of Bramble Lane, Ennis; and Jason McDonagh (25) of Dun na hInse, Ennis.

All are charged with assault causing harm to John McDonagh at John Paul Avenue, Ennis, on March 28th last.

A sixth McDonagh family member, Joseph (35) of Pearse Avenue, Ennis, is accused of damaging a car at John Paul Avenue on April 23rd last.

Mr McDarby yesterday said Joseph McDonagh would plead guilty to the criminal damage offence.

At the bail hearing for the six last week, the court heard that in relation to the alleged feud an elderly woman’s arm was broken and a man was knocked unconscious after he was struck from behind with a spade and a timber plank.

At the bail hearing where Michael, Edward “Ned” and Gerard McDonagh were refused bail and remanded in custody to yesterday’s court, Supt John Scanlan said the feud “relates to an incident that has its genesis in an alleged marital break-up”.

During one of the incidents, the court was told that John McDonagh was knocked unconscious after he was struck on the back of the head with a spade.

At the bail hearing, all of the accused denied involvement in incidents related to the alleged feud and three were granted bail.

Yesterday, Judge O’Brien further remanded Michael, Edward “Ned” and Gerard McDonagh in custody to re-appear before Ennis District Court on May 15th, and remanded the other three accused on continuing bail to appear on the same date.