A JUDGE has jailed a Shannon man for 22 months for slashing a mother of five with a Stanley knife and smashing glass in a caravan close to where her two-week-old baby lay during a violent attack.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed the 22 month jail term on Bernard McDonagh (32) of St Helen’s Park, Ballymurtagh, Shannon, for his role in the violent disorder incident as part of a feud with another family in January 20, 2021.
In sentencing, Judge Comerford also jailed four members of the McDonagh family for the crime, saying that the four continued their violent disorder knowing that there were only women and children present.
Judge Comerford said that “this was a premeditated act of violent disorder intended to intimidate people where there were only women and children present”.
He added that the men had implements that were sufficient to damage “and weapons with potential to damage property or people”.
Judge Comerford said there had been no remorse shown by the accused or an apology to the victims.
The judge added that Bernard McDonagh was the most culpable of the five members of the McDonagh family before the court and it was his third conviction for violent disorder and third conviction for assault causing harm in the feud.
As part of her victim impact statement, Victoria Keenan said that she was “helpless” when a group of men attacked a caravan that at the time was occupied by her two-week-old baby and her four other small children.
Ms Keenan said her baby was on top of the bed at the time and “as a mother I felt helpless and I will never get over how a group of men could treat a woman with five small babies”.
“I got assaulted when trying to save my babies from what was happening.”
At the sentencing hearing, Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan said the attack on the caravan was the third time members of the McDonagh family had been found guilty of violent disorder as part of ongoing issues between the McDonagh family from Ballymurtagh in Shannon and the Harty-Keenan family from County Limerick, who have family members living in Sixmilebridge.
Det Sgt O’Hagan said convictions have been recorded against members of the McDonagh family from two previous violent incidents at the Oakwood Hotel in Shannon in 2018 and Supermacs in Shannon in 2019.
He said that in January 2021, members of the Harty Keenan family moved to a site at Illaunmanagh, Shannon, “and tensions rose again”.
In sentencing, Judge Comerford said that Bernard McDonagh shattered the glass in close proximity to where the two-week-old baby was and slashed the child’s mother, Victoria Keenan, with a Stanley knife across the arm.
Judge Comerford imposed a prison sentence of 72 months on Bernard McDonagh with the last 50 months suspended, resulting in jail time of 22 months.
Judge Comerford said that it may be too lenient and said that he took the impact on Mr McDonagh’s five children into account.
He imposed a 13-month jail term on Thomas McDonagh (24), of Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon, after giving him a 57-month prison term and suspended the final 44 months.
Judge Comerford imposed an 18-month jail term on John McDonagh Jnr (26), of Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon, after handing out a 61-month prison term and suspending the final 43.
He imposed a one-year jail term on Patrick McDonagh (29), of St Helen’s Park, Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon, after sentencing him to 54 months with the final 42 suspended.
Judge Comerford said he wasn’t jailing John McDonagh Snr as he has no previous conviction for violent disorder and none relating to the feud.
Imposing a 49-month suspended prison term on John McDonagh Snr (40), of Ballymurtagh halting site, Shannon, the judge ordered him to donate €5,000 to the St Vincent de Paul in Shannon.
Judge Comerford backdated Bernard McDonagh and John McDonagh Jnr’s jail terms to February when they were first remanded in custody.
