Letterkenny man refused bail after alleged assault on pensioner

A Letterkenny man has been refused bail following an alleged assault on a pensioner on Friday morning.

John McGinley, from Glenwood Park, was remanded in custody by Choose Éiteáin Cunningham when he appeared at Letterkenny District Court docket.

The 18-year-old was charged over the incident, which is alleged to have occurred at round 5.45am on Friday.

Garda Gillian Web page gave proof of additional charging McGinley in relation to the incident.

Gardai objected to bail whereas the accused’s solicitor, Mr Rory O’Brien, stated his consumer had been granted bail by one other Choose on Saturday when he appeared on one other matter.

The alleged sufferer within the matter, Mr James Doheny took to the witness field and stated he felt ‘scared and intimidated’ by McGinley.

“I’m 70 years in the past, I’m not ready defend myself or my daughters,” Mr Doheny, who was accompanied by a number of relations, stated. “I might really feel afraid if he will get out.”

Mr Doheny stated he lives 900 yards away from McGinley and has relationship with some members of the accused’s household. He instructed the court docket that he has been residing within the space for 12 years now.

He stated he was the sufferer of an unprovoked assault at round 5.45am and was taken to Letterkenny College Hospital. He stated somebody from McGinley’s household known as to a home wherein his ex-wife and daughter dwell in.

“I felt intimidated by that,” Mr Doheny stated. “I felt that was a means of getting me to drop the fees.”

Sergeant Jim Collins stated he was objecting to bail as a result of seriousness of the fees – which carry a most penalty of 5 years imprisonment. He stated CCTV footage reveals McGinley getting into the identical park as Mr Doheny and his associate entered 30 seconds beforehand.

He stated statements from Mr Doheny’s associate and an impartial observer corroborate Mr Doheny’s assertion and stated {that a} t-shirt was discovered with blood on it.

Sergeant Collins stated Mr Doheny’s household felt ‘intimidated’ by a go to from a member of the family of McGinley.

Sergeant Collins stated there was a ‘blanket of non-cooperation from residents with An Garda Siochana.

Sergeant Collins stated the alleged offence was dedicated whereas McGinley was on District Court docket bail and Circuit Court docket bail.

“I don’t consider that there are any circumstances that 1would allay our fears by way of his cooperation with bail circumstances,” Sergeant Collins stated. “We have now issues that, if he’s launched in bail, that he would proceed to commit severe offences.”

Sergeant Collins confirmed that there aren’t any earlier warrants in existence and stated McGinley – who was accompanied by household to the court docket – at the moment has no earlier convictions.

Mr O’Brien stated the matter ‘might simply’ have been handled on Saturday, when McGinley appeared earlier than the court docket on one other mater, however Sergeant Collins stated the delay was right down to initially having inadequate CCTV proof.

Sergeant Collins stated: “We aren’t suggesting that this can be a slam dunk cost. We have now to undergo procedures, together with forensic proof. We have now to have blood analysed and that’s one thing that can help us.”

“To refuse him bail could be grossly unfair,” Mr O’Brien stated. “Situations have been imposed on Saturday that would simply switch. The circumstances are very restrictive and there’s a strict curfew.

“He might provide one other handle in Letterkenny.”
Concerning the go to to Mr Doheny’s former spouse by members of McGinley’s household, Mr O’Brien stated: “Even when a risk was made, it didn’t come from my consumer.”

Sergeant Collins stated Mr Doheny was ‘fairly clearly in concern’.

“He has made it fairly clear that he in concern from the presence and proximity of the place Mr McGinley resides and I don’t suppose residing anyplace else would allay these fears.”

“If my consumer hailed from Timbuktu, he (Mr Doheny) would even have concern. My consumer can do nothing about his handle as that’s the place he’s from.

Choose Cunningham thought of the matter and refused bail.

McGinley was remanded in custody to look on Monday subsequent, June 26, through videolink.

Letterkenny man refused bail after alleged assault on pensioner was final modified: June twenty first, 2023 by Employees Author