A Limerick man who is charged with the murder of his first cousin last May was remanded on continuing bail at Galway District Court yesterday. Mr Patrick Harty (26), of Carrowbrowne Halting Site, Galway, is charged with the fatal shooting of Mr Thomas Harty, at Woodlands Halting Site, Portarlington, on May 16th last.
He is also charged with setting fire to a caravan belonging to Mr Danny Harty on August 25th, 1998. Three other men, including his father, brother and their cousin, also appeared on charges of setting fire to the caravan. Mr Edward Harty (31), of Carrowbrowne Halting Site, Headford Road, Galway; his father, Mr Edward Harty (53), of the same address, and also with an address at Lilac Court, Quay Street, Limerick; and Mr James Harty (27), also of Carrowbrowne Halting Site, were further remanded on bail to appear on February 23rd.
The court heard last year that there had been a "murderous dispute" between the two Harty families in which two men, one from each family, had been killed.