Judge warns lives will be lost in ongoing feud between rival groups

Six men in court over incidents in the Carbury area of Co Kildare

The judge expressed puzzlement that nobody had been able to explain what the genesis of the original feud was. File picture

A judge has warned that lives will be lost in an ongoing feud between two rival groups in a village as six men appeared in court over incidents in the Carbury area of Co Kildare in the past week.

A sitting of Naas District Court heard lives were saved and serious injuries were avoided after gardaí foiled an alleged arson attack on the home of one of the suspected leaders of the warring factions during which 19 petrol bombs were found in the boot of a car on Monday night.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said it was a miracle that nobody had died after hearing that a garda was forced to draw his handgun to stop the alleged victim of a “highly co-ordinated attack” coming at his would-be assailant with a meat cleaver.

“It is inevitable, unless brought to an end by the law, there will be fatalities,” the judge warned. 

He claimed implements found in a car used by the alleged offenders including a hammer with screws welded into the head were “like weapons from the Stone Age”. 

Garda witnesses described how there had been up to 20 arson attacks on properties in the area in the past three months, as well as several incidents where guns were discharged.

Judge Zaidan expressed puzzlement that nobody had been able to explain what the genesis of the original feud was. 

Four men appeared in court over allegations that they were the occupants of one of four vehicles that had travelled in a high-speed convoy into a housing estate in the village of Derrinturn on Monday night.

Trevor Craven, aged 48, of Trinity Crescent, Derrinturn, Carbury, Co Kildare, is charged with having 19 petrol bombs under his control, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act.

The offence relates to the intent to caus

Garda witnesses described how there had been up to 20 arson attacks on properties in the area in the past three months, as well as several incidents where guns were discharged.

e damage to the home of John Mooney at Ashgrove, Derrinturn, on September 2, in a way in which he knew it was likely to endanger the victim’s life.

Mr Craven was also accused of having a knife in his possession on the same occasion. 

Three other young males suspected of fleeing from the scene, who were discovered in another house in the Ashgrove estate, also appeared in court. 

They were Aaron McManus, aged 20, of Killina, Carbury, Co Kildare; Eamonn Kelly, aged 23, of Patrician Avenue, Naas, Co Kildare; and Jack Kavanagh, aged 20, The Willows, Sallins, Co Kildare.

All three accused were charged with the single offence of having 19 petrol bombs without lawful excuse on the same occasion. They made no reply after caution.

Two other males suspected of being on the opposite side of the feud also appeared in court.

Jamie Fennessy, aged 21, of Trinity Drive, Derrinturn, Co Kildare, faced three charges including one of possessing a pitchfork on Main St, Derrinturn, on August 28, 2024, with intent to cause injury or to intimidate.

He is also accused of two counts of causing criminal damage five minutes later to a house and car at Ashgrove, Derrinturn.

His father Leighton Mooney, aged 43, of the same address, is charged with having a sledgehammer on Main St, Derrinturn, on August 28.

Judge Zaidan denied bail in all six cases and remanded the accused in custody to appear before Naas District Court on September 11.