Accused (23) shouted ‘give me the gun, I’ll blow him away’ before baby shot, court told
A YOUNG woman shouted “Daddy, come out, give me the gun, I’ll blow him away” before firing a shotgun at a family, spraying an eight-month-old baby, the child’s mother and a teenage boy with pellets, it has been alleged.
Charlene Donovan (23) is alleged to have fired two shots at members of the family, hitting three people. She was granted bail at Blanchardstown District Court despite objections after Judge David McHugh ruled witness statements were inadmissible because the people who made them were not in court to be cross-examined.
Ms Donovan, described as having an intellectual disability, was remanded in custody until she is able to lodge the €2,000 cash bail.
The media were banned from reporting her current address or the date of her next court appearance for “security” reasons.
Ms Donovan, formerly of Parslickstown Gardens, Mulhuddart, was the second person to be charged in connection with a shooting incident there on December 11 last.
Her father, Dan Donovan (48), was previously granted bail after being charged with possession of a shotgun and threatening to kill a man, Michael Collins, during the same incident. Ms Donovan’s court appearance was her second since her arrest last week.
Garda Michael Parry Jones objected to bail, saying the background to the incident was an alleged feud between the Collins and Donovan families.
On the day, he said an argument took place and it was alleged the accused was in the front garden of her family home, while members of the Collins family were in theirs.
Sprayed
It was alleged Charlene Donovan was heard saying: “Daddy, come out, give me the gun, give me the gun, I’ ll blow him away.”
It was alleged she went out of sight and returned with a shotgun, which she discharged toward members of the Collins family. Pellets sprayed the far side of the road, injuring a woman (29), her eight-month old baby and a 17-year-old boy, who was holding the baby.
The court heard the mother suffered injuries to her hands and hip which required surgery. The baby suffered “significant pellet wounds” to both legs and feet, and a fractured ankle.
The baby had since been discharged from hospital but required ongoing procedures and a full medical report was awaited, the garda said. The 17-year-old suffered injuries to his abdomen, legs and one arm.
Ms Donovan had allegedly fired the shots in full view towards people who were directly in front of her, he said.
He said the maximum penalty for the offence was life imprisonment and he believed the case would fall at the upper end of the sentencing scale if the accused was convicted.
Ms Donovan sat silently with her head down during the bail hearing. She has not yet indicated how she intends to plead to the charge.
Dan Donovan, a father-of-15, is accused of pointing a gun at Mr Collins during the incident and telling him: “I am going to bury you forever.”