Man on High Court bail hit with violent disorder charge outside courthouse

A Mullingar man facing assault and possession of slash hook charges in separate incidents in the town has been additionally charged with committing violent disorder outside the doors of Mullingar Courthouse.

Johnny Dinnegan (20), 30 Greenpark Close, Mullingar, County Westmeath, was charged at Mullingar District Court last Thursday in connection to an incident on March 6.

Detective Garda James Grogan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He said Mr Dinnegan gave no reply when the charge was put to him.

The court was told Mr Dinnegan was currently on High Court bail in relation to separate matters and was due back before the court on July 25 next year for those.

Judge Bernadette Owens queried the status of two investigation files relating to allegations Mr Dinnegan was found in the possession of a slash hook at Canal Avenue, Mill Road, Mullingar on May 20.

The second related to an alleged assault on James Dinnegan at 4 St Joseph’s Cottage, Mullingar, Westmeath on July 6.

Sgt Orla Keenan said the first alleged incident was a “large” investigation which had involved up to 16 people being interviewed and nine arrests.

That file, Sgt Keenan said, was “near completion” and would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the coming days.

Its corresponding file was not as far on and would require an adjournment, Sgt Keenan said, suggesting a date in late January for its return.

Louis Kiernan, defending, said there would be no objections to the state position, but asked for “pressure” to be put on the prosecution to speed up the process.

Judge Owens indicated a date of January 22 and remanded Mr Dinnegan on bail in relation to all three charges, marking the alleged assault charge as “time passing” and the offensive weapon charge as “peremptory” against the state.

The violent disorder matter was also paired with the two other cases to January 22 for jurisdiction purposes; Mr Dinnegan is expected to confirm a plea or seek a date for hearing.

Legal aid was granted to Mr Dinnegan.