Brothers carried out firebomb attack over family row about engagement ring, court hears

BreakingNews.ie

30-07-2025

Two brothers carried out a firebomb attack on a home where their 22-month-old niece was present at the time arising from a family row sparked by an engagement ring, a court has heard.
Peter Molloy (23) and Martin Molloy (25) were jailed for 20 months for the 'completely outrageous' petrol bomb attack on the home of the Quinn family on Watery Road, Ennis, Co Clare, in November 2023.
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Ennis Circuit Court heard that the Quinn and Molloy families at the time were in dispute over an engagement ring.
Seven months after the petrol bomb attack, Peter Molloy suffered an "unspeakable tragedy" through the loss of his infant son, Hunter, in May 2024 when he was struck by a vehicle near his home on the Quin Road in Ennis.
On the events of November 2023, Judge Francis Comerford said it was 'a planned petrol bomb attack on a house'.
He said he was 'deeply conscious of all of the tragedy that has touched the Molloy family'.
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The judge said: 'Peter Molloy lost his 18-month-old son last year, but a 22-month-old daughter of his deceased brother was present in the house at the time.'
'It is a deeply, deeply serious crime,' Judge Comerford said.
No one was injured in the petrol bomb attack which took place at 8.30pm on the night. The fire was quickly put out, and the damage caused totalled €3,000.
Both Peter Molloy and Martin Molloy, of Ballaghboy halting site, pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of windows and the front door belonging to Margaret Quinn at Ennis's Watery Road on November 18th, 2023.
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Judge Comerford imposed a 45-month prison sentence on both and suspended the final 25 months in each case.
The judge said it was impossible not to impose an immediate custodial sentence to make sure that 'blatant attacks of this nature involving petrol bombing of occupied residential homes don't occur'.
Counsel for Martin Molloy, Aaron Desmond BL, instructed by Shiofra Hassett, said a brother of the two Molloys, Jim, died and had been in a relationship with a member of the Quinn family.
'There was an argument about an engagement ring between the two families, and the engagement ring had significant sentimental value for both families," Mr Desmond said.
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'This unfortunate and tragic circumstance was the root of the animosity between the two families.'
Mr Desmond said his client had never served a custodial sentence before.
Counsel for Peter Molloy, Pat Whyms BL, instructed by Daragh Hassett, said the families had resolved their difficulties and 'there are members from both families seated together in the back of the courtroom'.
Mr Whyms said his client had engaged in a 'ludicrous escapade' on November 18th, 2023.
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He said, 'the families were fighting over an engagement ring' and what occurred on the night 'was totally out of proportion'.
Mr Whyms said Peter Molloy was 'in a heightened state on the night, and what happened was not pre-planned. They had talked themselves up into a state'.
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He said everything must be seen through the prism of 'the speakable tragedy' suffered by the Molloy family with the loss of their 18-month-old boy in May 2024.
Mr Whyms said the tragic event of May 2024 put something like the row over the engagement ring in context.
He said Mr Molloy's attitude to life had changed over what is important and what is not important.
Mr Whyms said the Molloys have three children and are expecting another baby next month. He said his client was very remorseful for his actions and had engaged well with the Probation Service.