Son of Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara to 'fully contest' assault charge at Clare mart

Farmer Gary McNamara, 43, is accused of the assault of another man at Ennis Mart on August 17 last year

At Ennis District Court, Gary McNamara, 43, of Ruan Manor, Ruan, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, is facing a separate summons of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace. Picture: Dan Linehan

A farmer son of Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara is to “fully contest” assault and breach of the peace charges arising from an alleged incident at Ennis Mart in August of last year.

At Ennis District Court, Gary McNamara, 43, of Ruan Manor, Ruan, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, is facing the minor assault charge and a separate breach of the peace charge from Ennis Mart on August 17, 2021.

In court on Wednesday, solicitor for Mr McNamara Daragh Hassett said Mr McNamara “is to fully contest the case in every way”.

Mr Hassett said as part of the disclosure made by gardaí, CCTV footage was provided.

He said even though the CCTV footage was State evidence, it was very helpful to his client's defence.

Mr Hassett told Judge Alec Gabbett that CCTV footage shows “nothing happens”.

Mr Hassett applied for a date for hearing and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to October 25, when Mr McNamara will be contesting the case.

A native of Limerick, Mr McNamara — who did not attend court on Wednesday — farms a substantial landholding in east Clare.

In the case, Mr McNamara is accused of the assault of Bernard Earley at Ennis Mart on August 17 last year contrary to Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act.

Mr McNamara is facing a separate summons of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act at the same location on the same date.

Not suitable for legal aid

Previously, Mr Hassett told the court the case was not suitable for legal aid.

Gary McNamara’s family connection to Dolores, who won a then record €115m Euromillions jackpot in August 2005, was not referred to during the brief procedural hearing into the case on Wednesday.

Mr McNamara has been farming land in east Clare for a number of years and in 2016 secured planning permission from Clare County Council for animal housing, feed and slurry storage facilities at Islandcosgry, Ogonnelloe, Killaloe.

Documents lodged with the council application said Mr McNamara was a beef farmer with about 100 bovine livestock units on 220 acres of "eligible agricultural land” at Tinerana Farm.

The purpose of the proposed development was to accommodate cattle stocked on Mr McNamara’s holding over the winter period and to provide suitable storage facilities for fodder, animal waste and farm equipment required for conventional and modern livestock farming.

The documents said the scale of the farmyard proposal was consistent with his farming activity and numbers of animals and type stocked.

A court previously heard in 2016 that Mr McNamara was left nursing a €128,778 bill after thieves "gutted" his east Clare lakeside mansion of all its antique chandeliers, light fittings, brass items and copper piping.

Mr McNamara and his wife, Michelle, purchased the lakeside mansion from a consortium for €1.46m at the end of January 2013.

It is understood that the McNamaras paid an additional €2m for 270 acres of surrounding lands in the estate on the shores of Lough Derg that includes 2.3km of frontage onto the lake.