Man accused over shooting gets bail
Dermot McKenna, aged 49, of Hillview Park, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick, is charged with possession of a shotgun, reckless discharge of a shotgun, and criminal damage at the biker’s home.
McKenna is alleged to have fired two shots from a legally held shotgun at the home of a rival biker on June 21, in retaliation for Andrew O’Donoghue’s murder the previous day.
Shots were fired into the apartment at Newcastle Court, Castletroy, on June 21. The apartment was occupied at the time but no one was injured in the gun attack.
Inspector Ronan McDonagh previously told the District Court that Mr McKenna “recklessly fired a shotgun into an apartment [block] where women and children were living”.
Inspector McDonagh said the shooting occurred 24 hours after the murder of Andrew O’Donoghue in what was “a feud between rival motorcycle gangs”.
Solicitor Ted McCarthy said Mr McKenna had officially resigned from the Road Tramp Motorcycle Club following Andrew O’Donoghue’s murder.
“He did so by handing in his badge and jacket — that is the final and terminal gesture of resigning from a [motorcycle] club,” said Mr McCarthy.
However, Insp McDonagh said: “He was a member of a motorcycle gang, but my information was that this man was effectively kicked out of the motorcycle gang.
“This [shooting] was as a direct result and retaliation for his best friend’s murder the day before.”
Yesterday, the court heard McKenna had been refused District Court bail in June, but had been granted High Court bail on July 6.
Gardaí had objected to bail and said they believed that Mr McKenna would commit further serious offences.
Judge Mary Larkin remanded McKenna on continuing High Court bail to appear before Limerick District Court on September 11.
Two men, who gardaí have alleged are members of a feuding violent motorcycle gang based in Clonmel, are charged with Andrew O’Donoghue’s murder.
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