This article is from page 18 of the 2009-04-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A SOLICITOR representing six men charged in connection with a feud between two families in Ennis has claimed the arrest of his clients was “politically motivated”.
However, he later apologised for his remarks, after the local superintend- ent strongly objected.
Defence solicitor Charles Foley de- scribed the incidents as a “so-called feud”, to which Supt Scanlan replied, “This so-called feud is a feud.”
Supt Scanlan said he had attended an emergency meeting of Ennis Town Council last Wednesday in relation to ongoing violence in the area.
Mr Foley then asked the Supt were the arrests “politically motivated.” Supt Scanlan replied, “That is outra- geous. I have no political motivation to come here today.”
Mr Foley said it was a “remark- able coincidence” that the incident
had taken place on March 28, but no arrests were made until last Wednes- day, “a day in which you are to have a meeting with Ennis UDC. That’s the very reason and that’s the reason you are objecting to bail today.”
Supt Scanlan replied, “I’d object to that type of cross-examination and I’d ask it be withdrawn. It should not be tolerated.”
Judge Leo Malone then said, “Mr Foley, the Supt has outlined specific reasons. . . I’m disregarding the al- legation that it was politically moti- vated.”
Mr Foley later apologised for the remarks. “I apologise to him if I offended him by suggesting it was politically motivated. It obviously wasn’t,” he said.