Brothers charged over 'feud related attack' in Mullingar

Two men have appeared in court charged with an alleged feud related incident in Mullingar last week during which a four-man gang descend on a house while brandishing weapons.

James Dinnegan (25), 3 The Green, Bun Daire, Kinnegad, Westmeath, and Patrick Dinnegan (21), Bay 9, Woodland Park, Dundalk, Louth, were before Athlone District Court last Wednesday charged with producing a machete and pitchfork during an alleged violent disorder incident at McCurtain Street, Mullingar, Westmeath on Tuesday afternoon.

Both men, who are brothers were arrested by gardaí following reports of public disturbance outside a Dinnegan family home at Mill House in the Canal Avenue area.

In a contested bail hearing before Judge Bernadette Owens, it was alleged the siblings arrived armed with weapons.

Garda Ken Shedwell said the state objected to bail being granted to Patrick Dinnegan under both O’Callaghan Rules and Section 2 of the Bail Act.

He said that was based on the seriousness of the charge, the nature of the evidence and the “serious concerns” the state held concerning the potential interference with the prosecution’s chief witness, Lucy Dinnegan.

Garda Shedwell said a further objection to bail being granted to both men was that the incident stemmed from a “relatively new” internal feud in the Dinnegan family.

CCTV footage of the incident was also played in court. It showed a white coloured saloon pull up outside the home of Ms Dinnegan’s elderly mother, who suffers from dementia, moments before three people can be seen exiting the vehicle while brandishing weapons.

Garda Shedwell said the incident had been witnessed by children in the Dinnegan household, and parents accompanying their children to a nearby GAA match.

Objections to bail were also heard in connection to Patrick Dinnegan’s older brother, James; the state position was concern over whether he would show up in court.

Mr Dinnegan gave evidence that he would obey conditions set down by the court: “I promise you, judge, 100 million per cent, I will be in every court from now on.”

Defence solicitor Mark Cooney, who acted for both men, said there were question marks over the state case on the exact locus of Tuesday’s incident when addressing the court concerning a bail application for Patrick Dinnegan. He said there was no evidence presented to back up claims of possible witness interference and said doubts the prosecution had over James Dinnegan’s “warrant history” were not enough to satisfy the court that a remand in custody was warranted.

Judge Owens granted both men bail with a number of conditions, including that both men lodge €500 cash, obey a 9pm-8am curfew, have no contact under any circumstances with Lucy Dinnegan and her immediate family, and stay out of Mullingar outside of bona fide legal consultations and court appearances.

James Dinnegan was told his bail could be extended to include appointments with medical and community mental health services.

Patrick Dinnegan was remanded on bail to Mullingar District Court on June 26, and James Dinnegan was given a remand date of July 10.