Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH03
AN ENNISKILLEN man accused of stabbing his victim at a well-known Traveller site, causing a 12 inch laceration has appeared in court.
Gerard McDonagh (34) of Windmill Heights, appeared alongside his co-accused 32-year-old John McDonagh, of Greenbrae Park, Strabane at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday. Gerard faces charges of grievous bodily harm against Patrick O’Donahue, resisting police, possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife, with intent to commit an indictable offence and threats to damage property.
John McDonagh faces charges of threats to kill, threats to damage property, possession of an offensive weapon, namely a billhook and a white handled knife, with intent to commit an indictable offence and common assault.
All the charges relate to an incident on Sunday, September 6, 2015.
A police constable outlined that on this date police received a report of an ongoing fight at the Greenbrae Park Traveller site in Strabane and when they attended noted two males with injuries. The alleged injured party Patrick O’Donahue said he was attacked by Gerard and John McDonagh and was stabbed with some sort of knife, which caused a 12 inch laceration on his head.
Gerard McDonagh was arrested for grievous bodily harm and resisting arrest. During interview he told police he had some injuries, but was unable to tell police where these had come from. The constable stated he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Police opposed Gerard McDonagh’s application for bail, noting that in this incident McDonagh had breached previous bail conditions that he not be intoxicated in a public place. The constable also stated that rather than residing in Enniskillen a resident at Greenbrae claimed McDonagh had been living there for a number of months rather than at his bail address. The constable said there was a risk that McDonagh could interfere with witnesses , re-offend and was a flight risk.
Defence solicitor Myles McManus questioned the alleged breach stating McDonagh had been in a friend’s caravan drinking and not in a public place. Mr McManus said there was no evidence McDonagh was a flight risk and noted his partner lived in Lisnaskea and he had family in Enniskillen. The defence explained that the injured party was also arrested for grievous bodily harm and that his client suffered injuries from the incident including, black eyes, cuts and bruises to his body. Mr McManus told the court McDonagh intended to make a statement of complaint against the injured party. The solicitor stated threats were made to kill Gerard McDonagh and his co-accused and that they were the victims of an unprovoked attack in this incident.
Mr McManus said his client was not a man with a very significant record, with his 13 convictions mostly for driving offences. He said bail could be granted with strict conditions.
District judge Nigel Broderick said he had concerns about Gerard McDonagh being released and said it was a serious matter as the weapon used was a knife. Due to the risk of interfering with witnesses and of further offending the judge refused the application. The two will next appear via videolink at Strabane Magistrates Court on October 1.
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