Feuding families criticised

A judge has condemned the level of viciousness and violence between certain families in Tubbercurry.

Judge Kevin Kilrane told Tubbercurry District Court that he had sympathy with the Gardaí in Tubbercurry.

“The viciousness and the violence is incredible. It’s Johnny against Martin today and it’s Martin against Johnny tomorrow,” he said.

He spoke after dismissing a case against 29- year- old Thomas McDonagh, of The Big Isle, Letterkenny who was charged with threatening his brother- inlaw Mr Charlie Ward at Humbert Street, Tubbercurry on May 12th 2016.

An identical charge against his 27- year- old brother Michael McDonagh was struck out after defence solicitor Mr Gerard McGovern told the court he was incarcerated in France and would be there for “some time”.

Inspector Páraic Burke called Mr Ward to the witness box who testified that he was walking down Humbert Street around 4.30pm on the day in question when he saw a silver Volkswagen pass him, stop and then reverse back down.

“It was Thomas McDonagh and his brother Michael. I seen [ sic] them get out of the car. They told me that they were going to kill me. They chased me. I got terrified and I ran down to Raphael’s chipper. His brother Michael said it to me, Michael said he was going to kill me,” said the witness.

He told the court he had known the two men all his life and knew they were due to return to Tubbercurry.

Mr McGovern argued that there was “absolutely no evidence” that his client did anything to Mr Ward.

The witness told Judge Kilrane that Michael McDonagh had a bell hook in his hand, visible on CCTV footage, while Thomas was shouting at him.

Judge Kilrane said the chief evidence was against Michael McDonagh and dismissed the charge against Thomas McDonagh.

He then asked Mr Ward how he got a long scar to his face: “Charlie Ward, with a stanley knife” he replied. “I’ve sympathy with the Gardaí here in Tubbercurry,” said the judge. “The viciousness and the violence is incredible.”