A District Court heard yesterday how a pregnant mother and her 13-year-old niece were set upon by four Travellers armed with a slash hook and shovel as part of a feud between two Traveller families.
Last Friday, at Ennis District Court, a fight involving up to 25 Travellers from the McDonagh and Mongan families took place inside and outside Ennis courtroom, resulting in two Travellers going to Ennis General Hospital.
Yesterday members from the families were brought separately to court from Garda custody, while their supporters were banned from the court grounds.
In court, Insp Tom Kennedy told of two violent incidents between the families in Ennis in July.
He said it would be alleged that four members of the Mongan family set upon a car containing Ms Julianne McDonagh - she was five months pregnant at the time - and her niece, Ms Shirley McDonagh (13), on Ennis's Carmody Street on July 24th.
Insp Kennedy said Mr Edward Mongan, Mr Christopher Mongan, Mr Bernard Mongan and Mr Patrick Mongan, with addresses at Belberry halting site in Waterford and a halting site at Mahon, Cork, broke the car windows with a slash hook, shovel and pick-axe handle. Ms Shirley McDonagh sustaining a wound to her hip.
He said the following day Ms Susan Mongan, along with three other females, was about to park her car at Bindon Street in Ennis between 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. when set upon up by three members of the McDonagh family who were armed with a shovel and pick-axe handle. Windows of the car were broken before Ms Mongan was able to drive to the local Garda station.
In both cases Judge Joseph Mangan declined jurisdiction to hear the cases in the District Court and the cases will now go forward to the Circuit Court. Judge Mangan said: "I do not consider these to be minor cases, and they are not fit to be tried summarily."
Insp Kennedy said gardaí were still awaiting instructions from the DPP in relation to the events at the court last Friday - two members from each family are facing charges arising from the clash.
In court yesterday, solicitor for the Mongans, Mr Ted McCarthy, applied for bail for two of his clients in custody.
Referring to last Friday's violent incidents, Mr McCarthy said: "It wasn't a situation where my clients went looking for trouble. The two families were thrown together by circumstances. "
However, Judge Mangan refused bail, and remanded Mr Christopher Mongan and Mr Patrick Mongan in custody to reappear before Ennis District Court on October 17th. Mr Edward Mongan was remanded on continuing bail to the same court date. Mr Bernard Mongan yesterday failed to show, and a bench warrant was served.
An application for bail was also made for the five McDonaghs before the court on charges relating to the feud. Solicitor for the McDonaghs, Mr Michael McDarby, said: "It is most unfair to remand my clients in custody as they were set up by others with a number of weapons last Friday."
Insp Tom Kennedy sought that the McDonaghs be remanded in custody to October 17th. Mr McDarby said it was unwise to remand the families to the same day.
Four of the McDonaghs were remanded in custody to Ennis District Court on October 24th, while Mr Bernard McDonagh (35), of Ashline, Ennis, was remanded to reappear before Ennis District Court next Friday.
