This article is from page 2 of the 2014-08-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A MAN allegedly ran onto a public road in East Clare carrying a samurai sword during a dispute between members of the traveling community, a court has heard.
Gardaí received two calls to deal with a disturbance involving travelers camped along the side of the road at Bohatch, Mountshannon on July 25, Ennis District Court was told yesterday.
Details of the alleged incident were outlined as a 22 year-old man appeared in court charged with an offence contrary to the firearms and offensive weapons act.
Bernard Ward, with an address at Bohatch, Mountshannon, is charged with having a sword which had a blade or which was sharply pointed contrary to the firearms and offensive weapons act.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at Bohatch, Mountshannon, on July 25.
Inspector Tom Kennedy handed in a schedule of the arrest, charge and caution of Mr Ward to Judge Grainne O’Neill yesterday.
Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett applied to be assigned legal aid and handed in a statement of means for his client.
Insp Kennedy said the State had no issue with the granting of legal aid to Mr Ward.
Mr Hassett said he required time to seek disclosure from the State.
Judge O’Neill asked if the issue of jurisdiction – what court the case will be heard in – had been decided.
The Judge said she could not make an order for disclosure unless she knew if the case is fit to be tried summarily in the District Court or not.
Insp Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case in the District Court.
He outlined a summary of the alleged facts of the case.
The court heard gardaí were called to deal with a disturbance involving members of the traveling community at Bohatch, Mountshannon on the day in question.
Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that a garda who was at the scene saw Mr Ward exit a caravan and arrive on a public road carrying a “samurai sword”.
The court heard that it is alleged that when Mr Ward saw the gardaí, he ran back into the caravan.
It is alleged that when gardai searched the accused’s caravan they found the sword under a bed.
Mr Ward did not indicate yesterday how he intends to plead to the charge.
Judge O’Neill accepted jurisdiction and made an order for disclosure. She remanded Mr Ward on bail to appear again in court on October 7.