Latest news with #Ennis
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Jury retires to consider verdict in Niall Gilligan assault case
The jury of seven men and five women has retired to consider its verdict in the assault case against former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan. At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, the jury commenced its deliberations at 12.33pm after Judge Francis Comerford told them that they should make their decision in the case 'after a cold, direct, forensic determination of the facts'. Advertisement Judge Comerford told the jury that what they have to decide is was there an assault and is it not an assault because of a lawful excuse. In the case, Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the assault causing harm with a stick of a then 12-year-old boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge, on October 5th, 2023. In his charge to the jury on Tuesday, Judge Comerford directed if they are satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the first encounter between Mr Gilligan and the boy that led to the force being applied commenced and started outside the two-storey Jamaica Inn rather than in the corridor of the building, then they can't consider the lawful use of force as a defence. Judge Comerford also told the jury in the defence of self-defence they should consider did the accused honestly believe that he had to use force for the purpose of protecting himself from an assault or damage to his property. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that if the answer is 'no', the defence of self-defence is no longer available to the accused. He said that if the answer is yes, then was the force used by the accused reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as he saw them. He said that if the answer is 'yes' to that question, 'then you must acquit. If no, it wasn't reasonably necessary, well then he is guilty of the offence.' Judge Comerford said that the jury can only apply this test if they are satisfied that the first encounter was outside the two-storey building. Advertisement In his closing speech to the jury on Monday, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL, said in no way is Mr Gilligan trying to suggest that he was entitled to punish the boy as was suggested and said that the injuries sustained by the boy 'are clearly regrettable'. Mr Whyms said that on the evening at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Mr Gilligan 'didn't know that he was dealing with a child and did not create this situation'. Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan "was at the end of his tether" by the vandalism being done to a vacant property he was trying to sell. Putting forward the defence of reasonable force against the charge of assault causing harm, Mr Whyms said that Mr Gilligan was at the Jamaica Inn hostel on the night of October 5th 'in the dark and believed that he was under siege'. Advertisement He said: 'Believing himself under threat and needing to protect himself and his property, Niall Gilligan needs to make an instant decision, and so we are here." Mr Whyms (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) said: 'And Mr Gilligan, a family man who has young children and no previous convictions, gives a clear story which hasn't changed and an entirely credible, fulsome account of what happened." Mr Whyms said to the jury: 'Did Niall Gilligan use such force as was reasonable in the circumstances as he believed them to be, and if he did, then no offence was committed.' Earlier in her closing speech on Monday, Ms Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told the jury: 'This is a story of a man who lost his cool.' Advertisement She said: 'Instead of picking up the boy after he slipped and bringing him out to his car and driving him home and telling his parents, he hit him and lost it and he was angry and frustrated.' Ms Comerford said that the alleged assault in broad daylight 'is the action of a man who took out his anger and frustration on a child. There is no evidence that his injuries were caused by anything other than his interactions with Niall Gilligan.' Ms Comerford said that Niall Gilligan 'lost control and punished the boy for the damage and inconvenience caused to his property on a morning when he had to clean up human faeces and urine from his property'. The jury has taken a break in their deliberations for lunch and will resume their deliberations at 2pm.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kellie Harrington slams 'worrying' proposal: 'Surely it is some sort of joke'
Irish Olympic hero Kellie Harrington has slammed a proposal that would see part of inner city Dublin redeveloped. Harrington has voiced her concerns over plans for parts of the inner city to be redeveloped, namely the Sheriff Street area and part of Amiens Street, and believes that the proposal is very worrying. The topic came to the forefront in recent weeks after An Post CEO David McRedmond, who is a member of the Irish government's City Centre Task Force, praised plans to "completely rebuild the Sheriff Street area from Amiens Street to Spencer Dock," in a Business Post article. When pushed on his comments, McRedmond clarified himself and said that the project was concerned with "renewing public space" and that it wasn't about people's homes and houses in the area. However, in a video shared by Dublin Councillor Daniel Ennis which shows a 3D mock-up of what a redeveloped Sheriff Street and surrounding areas would look like, a clear reference is made to renovating and redeveloping existing homes in the area. Commenting on the video shared by Councillor Ennis on social media, Harrington wrote: No this can not be real??? Surely it is some sort of joke??? "Do they think they can flatten the homes of all these families ? What's going on in this country ? The fact this video has been made and the community has no understanding of it is very very worrying." A proud native of Sheriff Street, Harrington is an icon of the inner city and has enjoyed joyous homecoming celebrations in the area following her Olympic gold medal wins in 2021 and 2024. In a later post, Councillor Ennis has stated that he is seeking a meeting urgently with the City Centre Task Force to discuss the matter.
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Irish Times
Photos of animal neglect on Clare farm ‘most distressing', Judge says
The Department of Agriculture removed almost all cattle and sheep from a Co Clare farm due to a mortality rate of two to three cows dying a week as a result of a farmer's neglect, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector Andrew O'Connor outlined the level of animal neglect at Pat Cahir's (61) farm at Buncraggy, Ennis, which he visited 22 times between November 2023 and October 2024. Mr Cahir's farm had 100 cattle and 200 sheep and, recalling the conditions he came across on his first visit, Mr O'Connor said the 'cattle had no fodder. They were hungry. They were lean, in poor body condition and scavenging for anything they could get. There was no grass.' He said the sheds were not in a fit state to inhabit and there were water troughs which were highly contaminated with algae growth and stagnant water. READ MORE He said the department decided around Christmas 2023 to remove the animals and on January 4th, 2024, it 'seized all animals bar 10 bullocks and a handful of sheep that were uncatchable on the day'. A booklet of photoswas handed to the court showing the level of neglect including abandoned carcasses of animals. Judge Alec Gabbett said he was 'stunned' by what he had seen. He said there was evidence that some of the carcasses were there for weeks. 'These are the most distressing set of photos of animals I have seen in a long time. It takes a hard stomach to walk past what I have seen,' he said. On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Thomas Wallace O'Donnell BL said Mr Cahir had agreed to a compliance notice which limits his stock to 20 bovines and no sheep. In response, Judge Gabbett asked: 'What about the 20 bovines – do they have no rights?' The judge asked: 'Is there capacity to comply with the notice? It strikes me that someone's capacity is at issue today. They are not able to do it or can't do it.' Solicitor for Mr Cahir, Daragh Hassett said his client is a bachelor and has farmed for almost 50 years. Mr Hassett said Mr Cahir has suffered very badly with his physical and mental health, particularly since 2021. He said Mr Cahir 'is now maintaining his physical and mental health which is benefiting the animals he has going forward'. Mr Hassett pointed out Mr Cahir has no off-farm income and his annual turnover would be, at most, €30,000 per year. Mr Hassett said it is Mr Cahir's wish is to return to stock levels of 50 cattle and 50 sheep. He said Mr Cahir feels that a 20 cattle limit 'is going to eventually bankrupt him'. Mr Cahir has pleaded guilty to neglect or was reckless regarding the health and welfare of animals. The case was adjourned to October 10th.
BreakingNews.ie
12-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Former TD and mother of six tells court she is unable to pay €300 rent this week
Former TD Violet Anne Wynne told a court on Friday that she was unable to pay her weekly rent of €300 this week and she and her family are depending on the goodwill of others. The mother of six told Ennis District Court that she is living on 'goodwill from a lot of people' and 'sometimes obviously going to other people who lend money and add on interest'. Advertisement The former Independent TD for Clare was in court after being asked to substantiate her claim with a statement of means that she currently has no income to pay off a residual €6,500 debt to a former constituency office worker, Fiona Smyth, from a €11,500 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) award made against her. In court on Friday, Judge Alec Gabbett ordered Ms Wynne to pay off the €6,500 debt by instalments of €50 per week. The solicitor for Ms Smyth, Daragh Hassett, cross-examined Ms Wynne in the witness box on her statement on means provided to the court. After examining the statement of means, Mr Hassett said to Ms Wynne: 'It is costing €895 per week for you and your partner to run your household, and your weekly income is €500, so you have a net loss of €395. How do you live?' Advertisement In response, Ms Wynne said: 'Family. Good will from a lot of people who have been very understanding about my partner's condition and the fact that we are facing very unprecedented circumstances." Ms Wynne said her partner, John Mountaine, is self-employed but has been unable to work since mid-May due to suffering epileptic seizures four times a day. Ms Wynne said she has received loans from family, 'and they are of the opinion that I am not able to pay back the money that they have provided to me and family for the likes of shopping, clothes and stuff like that for my children'. Mr Hassett said: 'For example, you told us 'next week, it is going to cost us €895 to keep the ship afloat with only €500 coming in', so where do you find the money?" Advertisement In reply, Ms Wynne said: 'We don't. We get it in goodwill from the family, or we are not able to make those payments.' Mr Hassett asked: 'Are you paying your rent?' In reply, Ms Wynne said: 'Currently, at the moment, not this week, no. …We are living day by day and week by week.' Mr Hassett told Judge Gabbett 'that there was scant detail' in the information provided, 'and Ms Wynne's story doesn't make any sense,' and asked Judge Gabbett to make the appropriate order for the repayment of the debt. Advertisement Judge Gabbett told Ms Wynne: 'I need you to be more forthcoming. There is a serious deficit of information here. There may be a cogent explanation for some of this, but in the absence of paper, it is problematic.' Ms Wynne said: 'It is not a case that I have withheld information.' In reply, Judge Gabbett said: 'I don't want a patchwork quilt of information. I want a full story. I am not fully informed.' Judge Gabbett said that if the debt is not paid, it is a criminal offence, 'and that is quite serious for someone like you, a former member of the Dáil'. Advertisement Ms Wynne said that with her partner being 'severely ill' and having six children to care for, 'I am unable to work and he is unable to work'. Asked by Judge Gabbett why does Mr Mountaine not claim disability benefit, Mr Wynne said: 'He has no GP at the moment because we went homeless during the election years. That is two years ago, and we haven't been able to get a GP since.' Ms Wynne said disability benefit for her partner is something she will look into. Judge Gabbett also told Ms Wynne that he needs a letter from the Clerk of the Dáil telling about how much she is entitled to in a TD termination payment. He said: 'There has to be a paper trail." Ms Wynne said: 'I got two payments in one lump in a termination payment and I paid €5,000 [to Ms Smyth] from that.' Election 2024 Election 2024: Full list of TDs who lost their sea... Read More Asked how much she did receive in her TD termination payment, Ms Wynne said: 'I don't have the details to hand.' Last August, the WRC ordered Ms Wynne to pay the €11,500 after finding that Ms Smyth was unfairly dismissed by Ms Wynne. Ms Wynne – who received a TD's annual salary of €113,679 – lost her seat in the November general election in Clare, receiving only 310 first preference votes. Her vote collapsed from the 2020 general election when she topped the poll as a Sinn Féin candidate. Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 19th.
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ex-TD Violet-Anne Wynne says she cannot pay rent and is depending on goodwill
Former independent Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne told a court on Friday she was not able to pay her weekly rent of €300 this week, and that herself and her family are depending on the goodwill of others. At Ennis District Court, Ms Wynne, a mother of six, disclosed that she is living on 'goodwill from a lot of people' and 'sometimes obviously going to other people who lend money and add on interest'. Ms Wynne was in court after being asked to substantiate her claim, with a statement of means, that she currently has no income to pay off a residual €6,500 debt to a former constituency office worker, Fiona Smyth, from a €11,500 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) award made against her . On Friday, Judge Alec Gabbett ordered Ms Wynne to pay off the €6,500 debt in instalments of €50 per week. Ms Wynne said that her partner, John Mountaine, is self-employed but has been unable to work since mid-May due to suffering epilepsy seizures four times a day. Ms Wynne said she has received loans from family 'and they are of the opinion that I am not able to pay back the money that they have provided to me and family for the likes of shopping, clothes and stuff like that for my children'. Ms Wynne disclosed that household bills total €895 each week but there is only an income of €500, leaving a shortfall every week of €395. Judge Gabbett told Ms Wynne: 'I need you to be more forthcoming. There is a serious deficit of information here. There may be a cogent explanation for some of this but in the absence of paper it is problematic.' Ms Wynne said: 'It is not a case that I have withheld information.' Judge Gabbett said that if the debt is not paid, it is a criminal offence, 'and that is quite serious for someone like you, a former member of the Dáil'. Ms Wynne said that disability benefit for her partner is something she will look into. Judge Gabbett also told Ms Wynne that he needs a letter from the Clerk of the Dáil about how much she is entitled to in a TD termination payment. He said: 'There has to be a paper trail.' Ms Wynne said: 'I got two payments in one lump in a termination payment and I paid €5,000 [to Ms Smyth] from that.' Asked how much she received in her TD termination payment, Ms Wynne said: 'I don't have the details to hand.' Last August, the WRC ordered Ms Wynne to pay the €11,500 after finding that she had unfairly dismissed Ms Smyth. Ms Wynne - who had received a TD's annual salary of €113,679 – lost her seat in Clare in the November general election, where she had stood as an independent candidate, receiving only 310 first preference votes. In the 2020 general election she had topped the poll as a Sinn Féin candidate. Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 19th.
