Latest news with #MullingarDistrictCourt
Sunday World
15 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man allegedly told neighbour he was ‘going to kill him' after row over tree
John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court A father of four and his wife were left 'extremely shaken' when their neighbour allegedly told him to ring for an ambulance 'because he was going to kill him' following a heated row over a fallen tree in the wake of Storm Eowyn. John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with trespassing and causing €300 worth of damage when he was accused of throwing stones at the window of his victim's home. The court was told how the incident had stemmed from Bartley's attempts to cut a tree that had fallen outside the home of his neighbour on January 31 this year. John Joe Bartley allegedly told his neighbour to phone an ambulance because "he was going to kill him" when the man informed him he was going to contact gardaí, a court has heard. Sgt Sheila Kenny said it will be the State's case that the accused began shouting obscenities when noticing the injured party looking out from his front porch. When the man informed Bartley of his intention to contact gardaí, Judge Bernadette Owens was told it will be alleged the accused advised him on two separate occasions to 'ring an ambulance because he was going to kill him'. Sgt Kenny said the State will also contend how moments later, Bartley attempted to gain entry to his neighbour's home only to find its doors had been locked by the man. Having failed in those attempts, Sgt Kenny said it will be further alleged that Bartley then picked up stones from the ground and began throwing them at a window, causing chips to its glass. The incident, it was alleged, came to a close when Bartley shouted in the direction of the man for a second time before getting behind the wheel of his van and leaving. Sgt Kenny said the man and his wife had been left 'extremely shaken' by the incident with 'upset' also being caused to the couple's four young children who were inside the house at the time. John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse. Bartley, who wore blue jeans with a navy and white shirt together with a green jacket to court, did not speak or enter a plea and instead stood quietly alongside his solicitor Louis Kiernan. Having noted the estimated €300 damage which had been caused as a result of the incident, Judge Owens ruled the case was one which could be dealt with in the District Court as she accepted jurisdiction. Mr Kiernan, meanwhile, applied for the disclosure of all relevant State evidence in order to consider his client's position in terms of meeting the case. Judge Owens remanded Bartley on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on September 18. John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Man appears in court accused of leaving young family ‘extremely shaken' after telling neighbour to ring an ambulance for himself as he was ‘going to kill him'
Today at 01:00 A father of four and his wife were left 'extremely shaken' when their neighbour allegedly told him to ring for an ambulance 'because he was going to kill him' following a heated row over a fallen tree in the wake of Storm Eowyn. John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with trespassing on the home his neighbour and of causing €300 worth of damage when he was accused of throwing stones at the window of his victim's home.
RTÉ News
15-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Man in court for offensive communication about then AGSI head
A 38-year-old man has appeared before Mullingar District Court charged with distributing or publishing a grossly offensive communication about the then general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, Antoinette Cunningham. Andrew McGovern, from School Lane in Rathowen, Co Westmeath, was charged with distributing or publishing a threatening or grossly offensive communication about Ms Cunningham with the intent to cause her harm between the 16 and 30 March 2023, contrary to Section 4 (1) and (3) of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. He appeared in court before Judge Bernadette Owens, who heard that a probation report directed on the 14 November last was not yet available in relation to Mr McGovern. The judge heard the injured party had attended court on every occasion and that she was keen that the facts of the case be heard and that her Victim Impact Statement be read to the court. Judge Owens said she appreciated this and she was not trying to be awkward, but she would prefer everything to be heard together. The case has been put back until 17 July when the full details will be heard.
Sunday World
13-05-2025
- Sunday World
Dublin burglary gang member who carried out raid on suspended sentence spared jail
Hughie Doherty (21) of Sundale Villas, Tallaght, Dublin 24 appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court A jobless Dublin man who was part of a four man burglary gang that broke into a house and stole a large cache of jewellery on the outskirts of a rural midlands village last year has avoided a spell behind bars. Hughie Doherty (21) of Sundale Villas, Tallaght, Dublin 24 appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with carrying out a burglary at Ballintue, Ballynacargy, Westmeath on February 26, 2024. Doherty, together with two other co-accused, were arrested after a number of Garda units, including the force's helicopter and dog unit pursued a silver VW Golf for over half an hour. The pursuit culminated in the quartet abandoning their silver-coloured VW Golf getaway car in a rural area of Kilmore close to the Kildare and Offaly border as the gang took to surrounding fields on foot in a bid to evade gardaí. The contents of the stolen jewellery were found some 48 hours later having been discarded at a location between Milltownpass and Kinnegad. Hughie Doherty was part of a four man gang that broke into a house in Ballynacargy in county Westmeath last year which resulted in a high speed garda chase involving officers from its helicopter and dog units being drafted in. A court had previously heard in connection to the appearance of Doherty's co-accused Michael Wall (24), of Greenhills Grove, Tallaght, Dublin 24, how all four were arrested a short time later 'covered in cuts and scrapes' before being taken into garda custody. Wall is currently on bail and under orders to undertake a probation ahead of an expected reappearance on July 10. Doherty, meanwhile, it was revealed had completed his own assessment with probation which, defence counsel Andrea Callan BL described as being 'extremely detailed' in its composition. She told Judge Bernadette Owens how Doherty had being open and candid as to his own involvement in an incident which the accused himself contended was not 'pre-planned or premeditated' in nature. Ms Callan said its findings provided further insight into her client who was had fallen into a peer group and become 'easily led to his own detriment'. Hughie Doherty (21) was warned by Judge Bernadette Owens that unless he complied with probation services he would be going to prison. The court was told Doherty's involvement in the Ballynacaargy raid had coincided in a five week spell in custody, an experience Ms Callan insisted had provided a 'very significant wake-up call' to the father of two. The results of that period on remand had, according to Ms Callan, stirred Doherty's own desire to re-engage with various support services while also attempting to further his own educational acumen with Dublin inner city facility, St Andrews Education and Training Hub. Hughie Doherty outside Mullingar Courthouse. News in 90 Seconds - May 13th 'He has entered a plea of guilty which is of significant benefit and he has followed that through with meaningful engagement with probation services and he has taken his own steps by engaging in pro employment courses that will hopefully get him to a position where he gets himself into full time employment,' she said. Judge Bernadette Owens, in delivering her verdict, noted Doherty's four previous convictions, one of which detailed how the accused was subject to a suspended six month prison sentence from Bray District Court in September 2023 at the time of the offence. Hughie Doherty turns his back and pulls a jumper over his head as he makes his departure from Mullingar District Court. She said the court was also conscious of what she termed as a 'lack of a guiding hand', something which she maintained was further 'relevant factor' that had to be factored in when delivering its sentence. Judge Owens consequently sentenced Doherty to nine months in prison, suspending the term for a period of 18 months. However, she warned the accused that if he did not comply with the conditions set out in the probation report, the court would invoke the suspended sentence. Asked if he understood those potential repercussions, Doherty replied simply: 'Yes Judge.' Doherty was similarly remanded on bail to a sitting of Bray District Court next Monday (May 19) for the purposes of the 'triggering' suspended sentence he was on at the time of the Westmeath burglary.
Sunday World
05-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man allegedly caught with knife chooses to go into custody rather than pay €100 bail
13 bench warrants had been issued for Ritvars Razma's arrest since March 2017 A factory worker accused of being found with a knife in a midlands town during the early hours of the morning has opted to go into custody instead of paying €100 cash bail. Ritvars Razma (27) of Bracklin Park, Edgeworthstown, Longford was brought before a sitting of Mullingar District Court following an incident along the mid Longford town's Pound Street on Thursday, May 1. Garda Padraig Shanley gave evidence of having arrested Razma at 1:40am for an alleged offence contrary to section 9 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Ritvars Razma outside Mullingar Courthouse. He said the accused was later charged shortly after 3:30am and made no reply after caution when the charge was put to him. The penalty for knife possession on summary conviction, a legal term referring to cases that are disposed of in the District Court can attract a maximum term of 12 months in prison. Judge Peter White was told there were State objections to bail based on Razma's previous record in attending court, adding 13 bench warrants had been issued for his arrest since March 2017. Those fears were outlined by the prosecuting garda who revealed how he had been made aware of a bench warrant that had been in existence for Razma during his period of detention on Wednesday. Garda Shanley said four of those had been recorded since last November alone, a statistic which he said illustrated Razma's 'total disregard' for the Irish judicial system. Ritvars Razma was arrested after being allegedly found with a knife in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford during the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) morning. When asked by Sgt Orla Keenan whether any conditions attached to Razma's bail terms would allay any fears gardaí harboured about the pet food worker's propensity to attend court, Garda Shanley simply replied: 'Not particularly, no.' Defence counsel Andrea Callan BL said her client had, in fact, showed up at Longford District Court on Tuesday in order to answer the said warrant but had been told to return home by his solicitor when it emerged it wasn't available for execution. Garda Shanley corroborated those version of events and that he wasn't aware of the outstanding warrant when he arrested the accused during the early hours of Wednesday morning. Ms Callan added Razma worked in a local dog and cat food factory, stating any curfew conditions would inflict a 'significant imposition' on him owing to his shift work patterns. Judge White said the court was compelled to consider the State's concerns regarding Razma's warrant background, but would be willing to grant bail subject to a cash lodgement being made. In remanding Razma in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €200, a lodgement of €100 was directed along with further conditions including the provision of a mobile number within 24 hours and for the accused to remain of sober habits in a public place. Despite the case being put back for a short period to allow Razma consider lodging the required €100, the accused was led away and taken into custody by gardaí a matter of minutes later ahead of an anticipated return date before Longford District Court this Tuesday (May 6).
