Latest news with #EnnisCircuitCourt
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
'Danger to society' who subject ex-partner to ‘reign of terror' is resentenced
Scott Donegan pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to the false imprisonment of an ex-partner during a four-hour ordeal at his home on November 9, 2022. The Court of Appeal has ruled that a sentence of eight years and seven months was not unduly lenient for a 'danger to society' who inflicted 'a reign of terror' on his former partner and threatened to stab a man to death. However, the court ruled that the cumulative sentences imposed on Scott Donegan (39) could not stand due to how they were structured by the sentencing judge, and he was resentenced today. Donegan, of Knockmore, Kilmilhil, Co Clare, pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to the false imprisonment of an ex-partner during a four-hour ordeal at his home on November 9, 2022. He also pleaded guilty to producing a knife at the same address on the same date contrary to Section 11 of the Offensive Weapons and Firearms Act. Detective Garda Donal Corkery told the Ennis court that Donegan took the mobile phone off the woman and forced her to sit in a chair 'where she was frozen out of fear due to the aggressive behaviour of Mr Donegan'. Scott Donegan News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 Det Corkery stated that Donegan ran at the woman with a knife and put her in fear. The detective said Donegan then grabbed the woman by the throat and squeezed her windpipe. He said that Donegan told her that he had a Glock handgun and a shotgun. Det Corkery said that four of Donegan's previous convictions were for assault against three ex-partners when Donegan went under the name of Paul McMenamy. This incident was committed while Donegan was on bail for a separate matter, relating to a charge of making threats to kill on April 19, 2021, when he verbally abused a man and threatened to stab him to death. The total sentence imposed for all offences at the Circuit Criminal Court in Ennis in September 2023 was eight years and seven months, with the final nine months suspended. Judge Francis Comerford imposed 20 months for the offence of making threats to kill, with this sentence made consecutive to a sentence of 83 months for the false imprisonment and the production of a knife. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed this sentence, saying it was unduly lenient. In delivering judgement today, Mr Justice John Edwards said the court did not fault the sentencing judge for regarding the false imprisonment offence as being the most serious offence, as the judge had carefully assessed the respondent's culpability in a careful and rigorous manner. He said the sentencing judge was right in regarding the production of a knife as being an aggravating factor, as was the respondent's previous record. However, Mr Justice Edwards went on to say: 'The sentencing judge was significantly in error in how he structured his sentence.' He said it was clear that, where an offender is being sentenced for an offence committed while on bail, the sentence imposed should be made consecutive to the sentence imposed for the previous offence. Mr Justice Edwards said that the sentencing judge was required to make the sentences for false imprisonment and the production of a knife consecutive to any sentence imposed for the offence involving threats to kill. However, the sentencing judge had instead made the sentence for threats to kill consecutive to the other sentences. He said that while the court found that the sentencing judge's failure to apply the statute correctly made no practical difference to the overall sentence, the sentences could not stand as presently structured. He added that it did not follow, however, that the court regarded the overall sentence as unduly lenient. Quashing the original sentence and moving on to resentencing, Mr Justice Edwards said that for the offence of making threats to kill, the court would nominate a headline sentence of 25 months and discount five months to reflect mitigation, leaving 20 months. For the false imprisonment and the production of a knife, which were committed while the respondent was on bail, the court nominated a headline sentence of 10 years and five months and three years and four months, respectively. Having considered mitigating factors, he reduced the sentences to six years and eleven months and 25 months respectively, to run concurrently. Mr Justice Edwards said this was to be consecutive to the 20 months for the offence of making threats to kill. Mr Justice Edwards said the court would suspend the final nine months, making a cumulative sentence of seven years and ten months to be served. Conditions of the suspended portion of the sentence are that Donegan is to keep the peace for three years post release, have no contact with the injured parties, and submit to supervision by the probation services. In her victim impact statement, the Co Clare woman told the court that Scott Donegan 'is a danger to society, and he has scarred and damaged me for life'. The woman said that Donegan imposed 'a reign of terror' on her during the four-hour ordeal despite her begging him to stop. She said: 'I believed that I would be killed by him and never see my children or family again.'
BreakingNews.ie
30-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Former Clare minor football captain jailed for sexual assault of woman
A former Clare county minor gaelic football captain has been jailed for two years and four months for the sexual assault of a woman. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed the 28-month prison term on Conor Gavin (32), of Paradise, Ballynacally, Co Clare, for the sexual assault of the woman at a house in Co Clare on July 18th, 2021. Advertisement The sentencing hearing was told that Gavin captained the Clare minor gaelic football team in 2011 and has also coached in recent years. In sentencing, Judge Comerford said Gavin sexually assaulted the woman after making the "very bizarre", "inappropriate" and "not rational" decision to strip down to his shorts and get into a bed uninvited with two women. Gavin had returned to the house with friends after a night out. Judge Comerford said: 'There is not much scope for rehabilitation when one does not accept that there is an offence.' Advertisement The judge said Gavin will be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register and will 'suffer all of the disgrace that someone receives who has committed a sexual offence'. Judge Comerford said there was limited mitigation in the case as Gavin had not expressed any remorse for the offence or apologised to the victim. The judge said that no indication of any apology at any stage 'accentuates the harm done by this offending'. Judge Comerford said Gavin was still in denial over the "serious offence". The judge said it was not a planned sexual assault and was opportunistic. Advertisement Gavin denied the charge but was found guilty by a jury in February. In her victim impact statement, the injured party told the court that she was hopeful that after today 'I will be able to move on with my life and close this chapter of what I can only describe as a horror story I never asked to be part of'. Reading from the statement in court, she said: 'All I ever wanted was an apology and for Conor Gavin to admit what he had done to me and say sorry. 'I never got that and that is really hard. Conor Gavin had the audacity to take the stand during the trial and deny what was done to me. That to me is unacceptable and leaves a detrimental impact on my mental health.' Advertisement Tremendous amount of anger In her victim impact statement, the woman said: 'The past four years have been extremely exhausting. I have felt the greatest deal of shame one could possibly imagine and although I know what happened to me was not my fault, it is still a feeling that I cannot shake." 'I have a tremendous amount of anger which I'm unsure if I will ever fully be able to let go of…It is an extremely bitter pill to swallow having to accept that this is something I will never be able to erase from my memory and something that I will carry with me forever. I lost a part of myself that night which I do not believe that I will ever get back. The woman said that almost four years ago on July 18th, 2021, her whole word was turned upside down when she was sexually assaulted by Gavin. 'An unprovoked assault which should never have happened,' she said. Advertisement The woman said having to write the victim impact statement was making her 'relive the biggest nightmare of my life', but added: 'I am however going to take this opportunity to have my voice heard'. The woman said that after the assault she 'was in a complete state of shock and disbelief. I could not and did not want to believe that something like this had happened to me'. On the impact that the sexual assault had on her, the woman said: 'My self esteem shattered into a million pieces, and my self confidence was non-existent… I was a complete shell of myself'. The woman said that she also suffered from panic attacks as a result of the assault. The woman paid tribute to her boyfriend for his support since the sexual assault. Counsel for Gavin, Patrick Whyms BL, said his client accepted the jury's verdict and would not appeal the jury verdict. Mr Whyms said that on the night Gavin had six pints in the pub and brought cans of Bulmer's cider back to the house. Ireland Implications of Gerry Adams' libel victory 'profou... Read More He said his client consumed a lot of drink and his drinking 'must have been a factor in the poor decision making to go into the bedroom, take off most of his clothing and get into the bed with two female persons'. Mr Whyms said the DPP had directed that the case could be dealt with in the district court on a plea of guilty only. Mr Whyms said Gavin had a good work history and currently works at a manufacturing plant in Shannon. Mr Whyms said it was in the public domain that Gavin captained the Clare minor football team in 2011. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at or visit Rape Crisis Help .
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Father of 4 Ukrainians at war stabbed fellow Ukrainian in the butt at DP centre
A 61-year old Ukrainian national who has four sons fighting in the war against the Russians stabbed a man in the buttocks at a direct provision centre in north Clare, a court has heard In the incident at the Burren Hostel, Doolin Rd, Lisdoonvarna on November 28 2023, Petro Drima stabbed fellow Ukrainian, Oleksandr Lozyuk, in a row sparked by Mr Lozyuk's refusal to give the key to his bedroom to Mr Drima, who was with a woman at the time. At the time, Mr Lozyuk lived in his own room at the hostel while Mr Drima lived in shared accommodation there. In the case, Mr Drima has pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm of Mr Lozyuk. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford said that it was a serious offence. He said that Mr Lozyuk had left the fight and the altercation but that Mr Drima stabbed him from behind in the buttocks. Judge Comerford said that the injury sustained by Mr Lozyuk 'isn't insignificant – it is quite wide – 5cm - and and deep, 3cm'. Judge Comerford said that 'the custodial threshold is reached due to the seriousness of the offending is concerned'. In evidence, Garda Brion Dolan said that Mr Lozyuk was preparing potatoes in the kitchen of the hostel on the night when Mr Drima approached him. Garda Dolan said: 'Mr Drima asked the injured party for the key to his bedroom so that Mr Drima could bring a lady back." Garda Dolan said that Mr Lozyuk 'refused to hand over the bedroom keys and there was an argument between both parties'. After the initial argument, Mr Drima shortly after produced the knife where he stabbed Mr Lozyuk in the buttocks as he walked up a stairs. The Garda said that at Garda interview, Mr Drima did express dislike for the injured party. Garda Dolan said that Mr Lozuyk and the accused 'shared a room at the hostel and Mr Lozyuk was moved to his own room because of his snoring and his own behaviour". Garda Dolan said that Mr Drima had arrived into Ireland after he left Ukraine following his discharge from the Ukrainian army on reaching his 60th birthday in the Summer of 2023. Prior to the war, Mr Drima had an agriculture business in Kherson in Ukraine and was working as an agricultural worker in north Clare at the time of the November 2023 incident. Garda Dolan said that Mr Drima received an eight-year, six-month prison term in 2009 in the Russian city of Belgorod for theft and robbery. Mr Drima was released in October 2016 and counsel for Mr Drima, Patrick Whyms BL, instructed by solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said that Mr Drima denies all wrongdoing concerning the robbery offence and said that he was targeted by the Russians because he is Ukrainian. Mr Whyms said that Mr Drima has spoken about the stress of the war, including the impact of shelling. In a Garda interview, Mr Whyms said at the time of the incident, Mr Drima said that he was thinking 'about Ukraine, my mother, my sons in the war, my life and my soul'. After being initially charged, Mr Drima spent time in custody after bail was refused in the district court and he subsequently secured bail in the High Court. Judge Comerford adjourned sentencing to allow a psychiatric report be carried out on Mr Drima and adjourned the case to May 30 to fix a date for sentencing. Judge Comerford further remanded Mr Drima on bail.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man, 75, faces trial over smuggling of woman, 22, he dated online into Ireland
A 75-year old County Clare man accused of providing a fraudulent French ID card to a 22-year old woman he met online in order to assist her to gain illegal entry into Ireland last year has been returned for trial. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Alec Gabbett returned Roger Bishop of Little Thatch, Crown, Lissycasey, Co Clare for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court in connection with two smuggling-related offences connected to the alleged illegal entry of the woman, who was living in Turkey at the time, into the State in March 2024. In court, Garda Emmet Roche gave evidence of handing over the Book of Evidence to solicitor, Colum Doherty, for the accused. Judge Alec Gabbett told Mr Doherty with the Book of Evidence now served, Mr Bishop did not have the option of entering a signed plea of guilt in the district court. Judge Gabbett said that Mr Bishop could enter a plea when arraigned before the circuit court. Judge Gabbett told Mr Bishop that if an alibi formed any part of his defence that he had 14 days in which to do so. Sergeant Frank O'Grady told the court that the DPP consents to the return for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court, where more serious penalties apply, after Judge Gráinne Malone declined district court jurisdiction last month after hearing an outline of the alleged facts in court from Detective Garda Karen Barker from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Declining jurisdiction last month, Judge Malone said: 'I appreciate that it is somewhat marginal but in all of the circumstances, particularly the age discrepancy between the two and the element of preparing a fraudulent ID card, I am refusing jurisdiction.' Giving an outline of the facts, Detective Garda Barker stated that on March 1 2024, it will be alleged that Mr Bishop travelled to Turkey, where he met a female. She said: 'He purchased tickets and a French ID card and assisted her in travelling to Dublin Airport, where he presented his passport and the French ID card with her details on it and gained entry. Detective Garda Barker said: 'It was subsequently found that the French ID card was false in the name of the female. She is 22.' The nationality of the woman was not disclosed in court. Asked by Judge Malone how did Mr Bishop come to meet the woman who is 53 years younger than him, Detective Barker said: 'They were in an online relationship.' Asked by Judge Malone where is she now, Detective Garda Barker said: 'She subsequently claimed asylum. She attempted to leave the jurisdiction in May-June and Luxembourg returned her back to Dublin Airport on the false French ID card she had gained entry with previously.' Asked by Judge Malone did Mr Bishop stand to make any financial gain, Detective Barker said: 'No judge - she was culpable. She wanted to come to Ireland and she got in a relationship. He basically thought he was in a relationship with her but when she arrived here, it didn't go to plan.' Detective Garda Barker said that 'it wouldn't be one of the more serious cases we have dealt with'. Detective Garda Barker said that the DPP had directed that the case be dealt with in the district court. Judge Malone said that the DPP has the benefit of all of the papers in this case but said that she was refusing jurisdiction. Mr Bishop - who turns 76 in May - is charged with possessing a fraudulent French ID card at T1 at Dublin airport on March 1 2024 with the intention of assisting another person entry into the State in breach of Section 5 of the Immigration Act 2004 contrary to Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons Act) 2021. Mr Bishop is also charged on March 1 2024 at T1, Dublin Airport with intentionally assisting the entry of another person into the State which was a breach of Section 5 of the Immigration Act contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021.
