Latest news with #EnnisCircuitCourt
BreakingNews.ie
23-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Former hurler Niall Gilligan found not guilty of assaulting boy with stick
A jury has found former All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan not guilty of assaulting a then 12-year-old boy with a stick. Mr Gilligan, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, had been accused of assault causing harm to the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th, 2023. Advertisement At Ennis Circuit Court on Wednesday, the jury delivered a majority not guilty verdict. Mr Gilligan sat impassive in the court as the registrar read out the not guilty verdicts in the case concerning the assault causing harm charge and use of a stick. More to follow...
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Irish Times
Former All-Star hurler Niall Gilligan denies assaulting boy with stick at Co Clare hostel
Former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan has pleaded not guilty to the assault of a boy. Mr Gilligan (48) appeared before Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday. He said 'not guilty' when arraigned on the charge of assault causing harm to the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Broadford Road, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, on October 5th, 2023. Mr Gilligan, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, also replied not guilty to a charge of producing a wooden stick capable of inflicting serious injury at the same location on the same date. READ MORE Sarah-Jane Comerford, for the State, told the court Mr Gilligan was alleged to have assaulted the boy 'and used a wooden stick during that assault'. She said it was expected the trial would take four to five days and should finish by Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Seven men and five women were then selected from the panel of jurors to serve on the jury. Judge Francis Comerford told them the trial would start on Wednesday morning and adjourned the case until then.
Sunday World
09-07-2025
- Sunday World
Woman charged over dangerous driving death of ‘inspirational' school teacher
Michael Lorigan taught for a number of decades at the Model School in Limerick city A 32-year old west Clare woman has appeared in court charged in connection with the dangerous driving causing death of 'inspirational' school teacher, Michael Lorigan (70). At Ennis District Court, Saoirse Lillis McMahon of Moveen, Kilkee, was charged with the dangerous driving causing death of the cyclist on August 16, 2023, on the N67 Baunmore, Kilkee, contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act. The fatal road traffic incident occurred at around 12.30pm on the day. Ms Lillis McMahon is also charged with driving her 02-CE registered vehicle at the same location on the same date while being under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. In court, Garda Ken Butler told Judge Alec Gabbett that there is also a summons concerning a defective vehicle relating to the same incident under Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act and he said that is due to be put before the court on September 9. Judge Gabbett told solicitor John Casey for Ms Lillis McMahon that 'the driving has to stop here. I am more concerned about the tiomáint'. Mr Casey said that Ms Lillis McMahon has stopped driving and there is a possibility of his client going forward to Ennis Circuit Court on a signed plea. Mr Casey said that he has spoken to counsel on the matter. Sgt Frank O'Grady told the court that the only charge going forward to the circuit court is the dangerous driving causing death case. Judge Gabbett said that he presumed that the new driving under the influence of an intoxicant charge would be added to the indictment. Solicitor, Daragh Hassett told the court that he holds a watching brief for the Lorigan family in the case. Originally from Benvoran, Kilmurry McMahon, Co Clare and living in Kilkishen in east Clare at the time of his death, Mr Lorigan taught for a number of decades at the Model School in Limerick city. Mr Lorigan taught there from the mid-1970s until his retirement and was remembered as an inspirational, kind, patient, dedicated and wonderful teacher in the many tributes from former students at the time of his death in August 2023. In later years, Mr Lorigan became a keen cyclist, and took part in the Clare 250-mile cycle many times. Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 9.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Woman charged with dangerous driving causing death of school teacher
A 32-year old west Clare woman has appeared in court charged in connection with the dangerous driving causing death of 'inspirational' school teacher, Michael Lorigan (70). At Ennis District Court, Saoire Lillis McMahon of Moveen, Kilkee is charged with the dangerous driving causing death of cyclist, Michael Lorigan on August 16, 2023 on the N67 Baunmore, Kilkee contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act. The fatal road traffic incident occurred at around 12.30pm on the day. Ms Lillis McMahon is also charged with driving her 02-CE registered vehicle at the same location on the same date while being under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. In court, Garda Ken Butler told Judge Alec Gabbett that there is also a summons concerning a defective vehicle relating to the same incident under Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act and he said that is due to be put before the court on September 9 next. Judge Gabbett told solicitor, John Casey for Ms Lillis McMahon that 'the driving has to stop here. I am more concerned about the tiomáint'. Mr Casey said that Ms Lillis McMahon has stopped driving and there is a possibility of his client going forward to Ennis Circuit Court on a signed plea. Mr Casey said that he has spoken to counsel on the matter. Sgt Frank O'Grady told the court that the only charge going forward to the circuit court is the dangerous driving causing death case. Judge Gabbett said that he presumed that the new driving under the influence of an intoxicant charge would be added to the indictment. Solicitor, Daragh Hassett told the court that he holds a watching brief for the Lorigan family in the case. Originally from Benvoran, Kilmurry McMahon, Co Clare and living in Kilkishen in east Clare at the time of his death, Mr Lorigan taught for a number of decades at the Model School in Limerick city. Mr Lorigan taught there from the mid-seventies until his retirement and was remembered as an inspirational, kind, patient, dedicated and wonderful teacher in the many tributes from former students at the time of his death in August 2023. In later years, Mr Lorigan became a keen cyclist, and took part in the Clare 250 mile cycle many times. Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 9 next.
Sunday World
05-06-2025
- 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.'
