This article is from page 32 of the 2007-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
A 61-YEAR-OLD man has admitted producing a hatchet in the course of a row in which his son was involved.
James Keane, a father-of-six, of Hermitage, Ennis pleaded guilty to the charge, arising out of an incident at Woodquay, Parnell Street, Ennis, on July 11, 2005.
Keane had denied assaulting David Halligan, causing him harm, on the same night.
He was found not guilty by a jury on that charge at the end of a day-
long trial last Wednesday.
Garda Eric Stafford told Ennis Cir- cuit Court that Keane was standing near the River Walk in Ennis with a hatchet while his son and another man were fighting.
He said that Keane was carrying a handbag which contained a vice grips.
Defence Counsel Lorcan Connolly said his client maintained graves in Ennis, “off his own bat”’.
“Td ask you to consider community service,’ said Mr Connolly.
Judge Sean O Donnabhain said he
accepted the accused had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty.
‘“That’s impressive. He is not likely to re-offend. In the circumstances, he got carried away,” said the judge.
“It’s a one-off, but he did have and hold a hatchet,’ he added and im- posed a fine of €500.
During the trial into the alleged assault, the court was told that Mr Halligan (25) and his girlfriend had stopped to have a cigarette, on their way home from town.
They were approached and Mr Hal- ligan was assaulted. It was alleged by
the State that Mr Halligan was hit on the nose with an implement, which was being carried by the accused.
Mr Halligan told the trial that he “sot a belt of something. I didn’t know what it was at the time”’.
Mr Connolly said his client admit- ted he was present and admitted he SPT Or Dw MAD Otcar- bomb este) (se slo tlm
‘At no stage did he assault you. Any of the blows you got were from An- thony or James Keane Junior,’ said Mr Connolly.
Garda Albert Hardiman said he observed Anthony Keane taking an
implement from his father, the ac- cused, and threw it over his shoulder into the river.
The accused told the trial if he hit a person in the face with a hatchet, “his face wouldn’t be there no more”.
Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan put it to the accused that Mr Halligan was quite sure he was struck by a hatchet. The accused replied, “Not by me. . . I didn’t get involved.”
After deliberating for a short peri- od, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the assault charge.