Man loses finger in attack with machetes at funeral

AN Ennis man lost a finger after being set upon by men with machetes while he was attending a funeral on Saturday afternoon, a senior garda told a court yesterday.

Addressing a special sitting of Ennis District Court on the alleged daylight assault on Jim McDonagh, Insp Tom Kennedy said the assault “was a deliberate attack and one that was planned and premeditated where the men travelled to the local cemetery armed with machetes”.

Insp Kennedy said that Mr McDonagh had his little finger on his left hand severed during the course of the attack by five other men while he attended a funeral at Drumcliffe cemetery in Ennis on Saturday afternoon.

In court yesterday, five members of the Ennis-based Joyce family, who are settled Travellers, were brought before the court charged with assault and weapons-related offences.

For the court hearing, there was a strong Garda presence at Ennis courthouse, including members of the Garda Armed Support Unit.

Objecting to bail for the five, Insp Kennedy of Ennis Garda Station said that, while attending the funeral at around 3pm on Saturday, Jim McDonagh, his wife Kathleen and other members of the McDonagh family, were set upon by Martin Joyce and other members of the Joyce family.

Insp Kennedy said that, along with blows to the head and blows to the body, Mr McDonagh also suffered a serious injury to his ring finger along with having his little finger severed.

Insp Kennedy said that Mr McDonagh was removed to Ennis General Hospital and was later transferred to Galway University Hospital.

Insp Kennedy said: “It was a serious assault, but it was lucky for Mr McDonagh that the matter is not a lot more serious.”

Insp Kennedy said he was objecting to bail based on the seriousness of the charges.

Solicitors for the five, Tara Godfrey and William Cahir, said their clients would be fully contesting the charges before the court and stated that their clients should get bail.

Mr Cahir said: “This is not a question of feuding and it is not a matter that has been ongoing or has been troubling the Garda.”

In the case, John Joyce Snr, aged 59, of 1 Watery Rd, Ennis; Patrick Joyce, aged 27, of 6 Watery Rd, Ennis; John Joyce Jnr, aged 30, of Glensheen, Gort Rd, Ennis; David Joyce, aged 34, of Oakwood Drive, Ennis; and Martin Joyce, aged 29, of 2 Watery Rd, Ennis, are all charged with the Section 3 Assault of Jim McDonagh at Drumcliffe cemetery, Ennis on January 8.

The defendants — except John Joyce Snr — are also each charged with possession of a machete contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act on the same date at Drumcliffe cemetery.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy remanded the five in custody with consent to bail to next Friday’s sitting of Ennis District Court on condition that the five provide their own surety of €1,000 each and independent sureties.