25-05-2025
Brothers accused of wielding machete and pitchfork in daylight feud attack
James Dinnegan (25) and Patrick Dinnegan (21) were brought before a sitting of Athlone District Court
These are the smiling two brothers who stand accused of pouncing on the home of an elderly woman suffering from dementia armed with a machete and pitchfork in an 'ongoing and violent' internal family feud that has left a midlands town on a knife-edge.
James Dinnegan (25) The Green Bun Daire, Kinnegad, Co Westmeath and Patrick Dinnegan (21) Woodland Park, Dundalk, Co Louth were brought before a sitting of Athlone District Court in connection to an incident on Tuesday afternoon that saw a four man gang target a family home in Mullingar.
The pair were arrested and charged with producing a machete and pitchfork during the course of a dispute respectively at McCurtain Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath in 'full view of the public' and as part of the latest feuding rivalry to hit the midlands town in recent months.
Patrick Dinnegan (21) was charged with producing a pitchfork during the course of a disturbance in Mullingar on Tuesday afternoon.
Garda Ken Shedwell detailed how both men were arrested as gardaí responded to reports a public disturbance that had broken out at Mill House, a two storey property that was home to the alleged victim, Lucy Dinnegan and her elderly mother.
During the course of a lengthy and contested bail hearing, Garda Shedwell said it will be contended a four man gang, three of whom had their faces covered with snoods, arrived at the scene in the middle of the afternoon while being armed with a cache of weapons.
Garda Shedwell said the State will allege how both men exited a white Opel Insignia at around 4.30pm and almost instantaneously began issuing menacing threats to Ms Dinnegan's family.
The court was told how the incident had formed part of an 'ongoing and violent' feud involving 'multiple members' of the wider Dinnegan family in what gardaí maintained was a 'clear threat to public order and safety' in Mullingar.
CCTV footage taken from three alternate vantage points outside the Dinnegan household showed the suspect white coloured Opel pull up where three males can be seen jumping out wielding weapons.
James Dinnegan (25) was charged with producing a machete during a violent episode in Mullingar which saw a four man gang arrive at a house in the midlands town in broad daylight armed with weapons.
Garda Shedwell said it was the gardaí's firm belief Patrick Dinnegan was one of those individuals who was armed with a pitchfork while sporting a blue tracksuit and black snood in order to cover his face.
Judge Owens was told gardaí were also satisfied Patrick's older sibling, James had been among that group with his face being identified on CCTV by investigating gardaí while brandishing a machete.
A third video clip taken from a Facebook Live video which gardaí allege was filmed by James Dinnegan sitting in the front passenger seat of the Opel Insignia was similarly played in open court.
Its contents featured a stream of shouts and high pitched heckling, one of which included the taunt: 'Come out now, you stupid b******.'
Garda Shedwell said the incident would have been witnessed by a string of Lucy Dinnegan's immediate family, including a number of young children who were inside the house at the time of the attack.
Patrick Dinnegan was banned from entering Mullingar with the exception of bona fide legal appointments and court appearances.
It was further revealed how the episode played out across from a local SuperValu store and as several parents were attempting to bring their own children to a nearby GAA match.
'Lucy Dinnegan stated the suspects made physical and verbal threats,' said Garda Shedwell, stating how it will be alleged James Dinnegan embarked on making a series of hand gestures.'She expressed genuine fear for her safety and the safety of her family.'
The court was told how gardaí were firstly objecting to Patrick Dinnegan's bail under both O'Callaghan Rules and Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997.
Garda Shedwell said the basis for those objections were due to the seriousness of the charges under section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act which, upon conviction on indictment carries a maximum tariff of five years in prison.
James and Patrick Dinnegan outside Athlone Courthouse.
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He said a further strand to the State's application was grounded on the nature of the evidence investigating gardaí had already garnered, among which included allegations Patrick Dinnegan was spotted wearing the same clothing barely 30 minutes after the attack while his older brother was allegedly found in possession of a black snood which had featured in the earlier CCTV footage.
Judge Owens was informed of the 'serious concerns' senior garda investigators harboured over fears of witness interference involving Patrick Dinnegan in an 'ongoing feud' that had the potential to escalate even further.
There were objections outlined in terms of James Dinnegan under O'Callaghan Rules, much of which centred on eight bench warrants which had been issued for his arrest in recent times.
James and Patrick Dinnegan outside Athlone Courthouse.
Taking the stand himself, the latter detailed how his own battles with mental health had resulted in him spending 'two to three days' in St Loman's Hospital.
Under cross examination from Sgt Orla Keenan as to why he had not followed through on recommendations from his GP to begin psychiatric appointments, Mr Dinnegan replied: 'I would rather keep my mental health to myself as I don't like talking about it to be honest.'
In defence, Mark Cooney said both his clients should be granted bail for a myriad of reasons.
In terms of Patrick Dinnegan, he said there was a presumption of innocence that could not be overlooked allied to a 'certain vagueness' that surrounded where the incident had taken place with both McCurtain Street and Canal Avenue having been put forward in open court.
James Dinnegan was granted bail subject to a litany of strict conditions.
Mr Cooney also argued there was a distinct lack of evidence concerning supposed witness interference, an inconsistency which had been borne out by the fact the State's chief witness Lucy Dinnegan was not present to give evidence.
In switching his focus to James Dinnegan, Mr Cooney said the State's sole argument for resisting his client's liberty because of eight previous bench warrants was simply not enough to force the court into imposing a custodial remand.
Judge Owens granted both men bail subject to a number of strict conditions. In remanding the pair on their own cash bail of €500 each, she compelled them to obey a 9pm to 8am curfew and to have no contact either directly or indirectly with Lucy Dinnegan and her immediate family.
The pair were also ordered to stay off all social media platforms, to obey sign on conditions and to stay out of Mullingar with the exception of designated court appearances and documented legal appointments. James Dinnegan was, meanwhile, granted a minor relaxing of the latter to enter Mullingar but only for authentic GP and community mental health appointments.
Other conditions included directions for both men not to apply for travel documentation or leave the jurisdiction and to provide a mobile number to gardaí.
Having signed both of their bail bonds, Judge Owens remanded Patrick Dinnegan on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on June 26 with his older brother ordered to return before the same court two weeks later on July 10.
