This article is from page 20 of the 2014-03-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A FAMILY were “terrorised” at their home in Shannon when a gang of 12 people arrived for a confrontation in the early hours of New Year’s morning, a court has heard.
Grandfather Michael Murphy (45) suffered cuts to his face, lip and knee during the incident at the Cluain Alainn estate in Shannon at around 4.30am on January 1, 2012.
Mr Murphy and his then 19-yearold son Kieran had to run a “gauntlet” of kicks and punches during the ordeal, the court heard.
Garda Colm Moriarty of Shannon Garda Station told the court that as many as 12 people were outside the house at during the incident which was sparked by an alleged assault at Finian Park in Shannon earlier that night. Four people appeared before Ennis Circuit Criminal Court yesterday having pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Schoolmates Daniel Larkin (22), from Mount Ivers, Sixmilebridge, Jake Egan (22), from Aidan Park, Shannon, Shane O’Connor (23), from Ballycasey Manor, Shannon and Gearoid Condron (22) from Drumline, Newmarket on Fergus, were among a large gang of people that traveled in cars from Shannon and Ennis to the quiet residential area near Hurler’s Cross.
Mr Murphy, his wife, son, daughter and young granddaughter were in the house at the time.
Garda Moriarty told the court that at one point a person, not one of the four men before the court, threatened to burn down the house.
When Mr Murphy Snr pleaded that there was a young child in the house, the reply from the person was “F*** the kids”. Garda Moriarty agreed with prosecuting counsel, Stephen Coughlan’s view that the Murphy family were “terrorised” on the night. The court heard Mr Murphy’s daughter was afraid to stay in the house for weeks after the event.
Garda Moriarty said Daniel Larkin organised people to go to the Murphy home to confront Kieran Murphy.
He said Mr Larkin alleged that he had been “jumped” by Kieran Murphy in Shannon at around 1.30am that night. The groups had been socialising in the Shannon Knights Pub. The court heard Michael Murphy found Mr Larkin and Jake Egan standing outside his front door at 4.30am. They were roaring for Ki- eran Murphy to come outside, the court heard.
Mr Egan, who plays rugby with St Senan’s rugby club, used his foot to prevent Mr Murphy from closing the door, an action that forced Mr Murphy to hit Mr Egan.
Counsel for the DPP, Stephen Coughlan told the court that Michael and Kieran Murphy went to the edge of the property and asked the gang to leave. Counsel said the men were “harried, circled and struck from behind”.
“It was like running a gauntlet. They were struck by one person, then another and then another”, he added.
At one point Kieran Murphy brought a knife to the door but was persuaded by his mother to leave the weapon in the house.
Garda Moriarty told the court Gearoid Condron and Shane O’Connor arrived at the house having been driven from Ennis in a black Audi car.
The court heard that Mr O’Connor, a rugby player, shouted “C’mon so you f*****, swing for me” at Mr Murphy Snr. Gearoid Condron, the court heard, pushed his way into the hallway and engaged in a fight with Michael Murphy. Mr Condron denies entering the house. At this point, the court heard that Kieran Murphy struck Mr Condron with a golf club.
Garda Moriarty said Daniel Larkin kicked the taillights of two cars parked in the driveway.
Jake Egan and Shane O’Connor have no previous convictions. Daniel Larkin has 16 previous convictions for road traffic offences.
Gearoid Condron has three previous convictions for road traffic offences. Judge Gerald Keys said he was willing to adjourn sentence to April 29 to allow the men time to come up with compensation for the victims. He ordered the four men to pay the money from their own pockets.
“This is money you are going to have to earn for yourself for the outrageous conduct of all four of you”.
Judge Keys said this was a case where Mr Murphy Snr had been kicked in the face. He said the accused were all educated men from good family backgrounds.
“None of you will walk away from this court without living up to your responsibility to Mr Murphy”, he added. The men were remanded on continuing bail to appear again in court on April 29. Judge Keys said he was not ruling out a custodial sentence.