Horse crush groom sues ace for €2m
Court hears alleged actions were among the worst during the night of Dublin unrest
Elena Thorman
AN international polo player is being sued for €2.3million after one of her horses crushed a groom.
Elena Thorman’s pelvis was smashed when Catherine Lamacraft’s horse reared and fell on her at the star’s stately home.
Ms Thorman also had fractures to her hip, ribs and ankle after caring for Harri at a tournament at Knepp Castle Estate, in West Sussex, in July 2018.
The 25-year-old, from Petworth, West Sussex, says her “life-changing” injuries robbed her of an Army career, a pre-trial High Court hearing heard.
In 2020, lawyers for Ms Lamacraft, of Dunster, Somerset, “admitted liability pursuant to the Animals Act 1971 and/or negligence” but they dispute the total claimed.
A MAN has been accused of setting fire to a Garda vehicle which contributed to “further acts of arson” during the November riots in Dublin.
Dublin District Court heard this was among the most serious events of the unrest on November 23, which resulted from protests after an earlier incident where children and several people were injured.
Gardai have already brought dozens of people before the courts on public order, weapons, thefts and various other charges in connection with the rioting and looting.
Declan Donaghey, 27, of William’s Place, Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1, and Kyle Lawrence, 18, of Lurgan Street, Dublin 7, were arrested on Wednesday and brought to Store Street Garda Station where they were charged with various serious offences.
They were held overnight and appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court yesterday.
He remanded them on strict bail to appear again on April 4, pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions about their trial venue.
Mr Donaghey is accused of four offences at Parnell Street: arson by setting fire to a marked Garda vehicle, criminal damage of another Garda vehicle, throwing an object through the glass front window of a business, and violent disorder.
Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick told the court Mr Donaghey “made no reply to the charges”, and she objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case.
She told Judge Smyth that there had been protesters at the scene of the earlier incident where several people and children were injured.
Gardai also became aware of a protest at the Garden of Remembrance, and
Det Gda Fitzpatrick said that what followed was “one of the most serious and largest scenes of public disorder that has ever occurred in the history of the State”.
Det Gda Fitzpatrick alleged Mr Donaghey “set fire to a marked Garda patrol vehicle at Parnell Street at 6.45pm”. She added that “this was the first vehicle set alight, and it is the position of investigating gardai that this act also contributed to acts further acts of arson throughout the evening”.
It was also alleged that Mr Donaghey caused damage to another marked patrol vehicle by jumping on the bonnet and repeatedly stamping on the windscreen, causing it to smash, and that he engaged in violent disorder. Det Gda Fitzpatrick claimed that gardai traced Mr Donaghey’s movements for over two hours, and there was video evidence of each offence.
It was also expected that there would be further arrests.
Defence solicitor Tony Collier said his client was unemployed and had applied for social welfare but was looking for work. He submitted that Mr Donaghey, who was granted legal aid, did not have the resources to flee and live outside the jurisdiction.
Judge Smyth said they were very serious charges, but the court could grant bail with strict conditions.
Mr Donaghey was remanded on his
ALSO ACCUSED bond of €500 to appear again on April 4, with conditions including signing on at his local Garda station.
The second defendant, Mr Lawrence, who is participating in an educational programme, faces 10 charges. He has five counts of burglary at Foot Locker, Arnotts, JD Sports, Lifestyle and Asics and two charges for violent disorder at Parnell Street and O’connell Street Lwr.
Mr Lawrence is also accused of attempted criminal damage at Penneys, Mary Street, and two further acts of attempted criminal damage.
Detective Garda Alan O’toole said Mr Lawrence “made no reply after caution”. The detective did not object to his bail but asked the court “to impose strict conditions”. These included Judge Smyth ordering a 9pm to 7am curfew.
Mr Lawrence’s barrister Barry Lysaght told the court there was consent to the bail terms sought and a nineweek adjournment. Legal aid was also granted.
The two men have yet to indicate how they will plead.
One of the most serious and largest scenes of public disorder in the history of State DET GDA MICHELLE FITZPATRICK IN COURT YESTERDAY