Accused tried to stop feud, court hears

One of the accused in a triple attempted murder trial was trying to broker a peace deal between two Traveller families who were feuding over a damaged caravan, a court has heard today.

Giving evidence in the Central Criminal Court this morning, Patrick Gavin said attempted murder accused Patrick McDonagh had been on the Gavin’s halting site at Coolock early on New Year’s Day in 2005 trying to broker a peace deal.

Patrick McDonagh (aged 42) and Martin McDonagh (aged 31) of Dunsink Lane, Finglas, Dublin are charged with the attempted murder of John Gavin, Robert Gavin and Patrick Gavin at St Dominic’s Park, Belcamp Lane, Coolock on New Year’s Day, 2005.

The McDonagh’s have also pleaded not guilty to possession of a sawn off shotgun and recklessly or intentionally causing harm to Robert Gavin.

Patrick Gavin (not one of the victims) said he had seen Patrick McDonagh on the halting site talking to his family before the shooting.

"It would be fair to say they were having a talk, peace discussions, they were trying to sort out, trying to broker peace between the two families," defence counsel for Patrick McDonagh, Mr Paul Burns SC asked.

"Yes," Mr Gavin said.

Earlier in the week Mr Justice Paul Carney and the jury of nine men and three women had been told the families had been feuding over a damaged caravan.

In evidence, Mr Gavin told prosecuting counsel Mr Niall Durnin SC he had seen Patrick McDonagh drive the silver car out of the site after the discussion and soon after drive the same car back in.

"I seen Patrick McDonagh driving it," he said. "It drove right around the site."

Then he heard two shots go off and saw his brother Robert Gavin bleeding from the face, he said.

Another witness Paul Gavin told Mr Durnin he had seen the silver car drive into the site a man leaning out the passenger side window holding a gun aiming then two shots went off.

The trial continues today but will break on Monday before resuming on Tuesday next week.