Man in machete chase avoids jail term

Two men were “in fear of their lives” as they ran away from men wielding a machete and hockey stick in the school yard of a primary school, a court has heard.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Thomas Molloy received a two-year suspended sentence for his part in the incident.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL, said Darren and Martin Maughan were in fear of their lives at the Holy Family School in Ennis on March 20, 2012.

Mr Coughlan said Thomas Molloy, aged 23, of An Pairc, Bru na hAbhann, Quin Rd, Ennis, wearing a mask, and two others gave chase to the Maughans across the school yard during lunchtime on the day when parents were collecting their children from the school.

Mr Coughlan said the Maughans barricaded themselves into a classroom at the school, with Molloy and others shouting on the other side of the door “we’re going to kill you” and “you’re dead”.

Mr Coughlan said gardaí were very quickly on the scene and the three fled.

He said the incident — which was part of a feud between the Molloys and the Maughans — gave rise to a lot of disquiet, as parents and young children were subjected to this behaviour.

Counsel for father-of-one Molloy, Mark Nicholas BL admitted that what occurred was an outrageous event that took place in the precinct of a school and he said that thankfully, there were no injuries.

Mr Coughlan said that the two others involved in the incident received a two-year suspended jail term and a 12- month probation and supervision order.

Garda Trevor Shannon said the feud between the Molloys and the Maughans is at an end.

In the case, Molloy pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon on the day.

Garda Shannon said Molloy denied all involvement in the incident and told gardaí that he was in Newcastle West at the time.

Imposing a suspended sentence of two years, Judge Gerald Keys said that the case was one of a number of feud-related cases involving Travellers to come before the court this week.

Judge Keys said that “in the public interest and interest for peace for the future I am going to impose a prison sentence but suspend it”.

He added: “This court will not tolerate any more feuding by the Traveller community.”