Two west Clare brothers who subjected their aunt and uncle and young cousins to a terrifying ‘home invasion’ ordeal two years ago have walked free from court.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keys said that 25 year old Ronan Carey and 26 year old Jamie Carey, both of Church Street Kilmihil, had engaged “in thuggery of the highest order” when invading the Kilmihl home of Fergus Downes in August 2015.
Judge Keys imposed suspended three year sentences on Ronan Carey and Jamie Carey, and a 16 month suspended sentence on 26-year-old Gary O’Gorman of Treamanagh, Mullagh for his role in the incident which occured on August 30th 2015.
The judge said that he was prepared to suspend the jail terms because of the relationship between the offenders and the victims, the €5,000 in compensation paid by the offenders, their remorse and, quote, “also to avoid possible conflict in the future.”
The attack occurred only hours after Ronan Carey carried out a mid-day assault on his then 14 year old cousin, Evan Downes.
The teen had a cast put on his broken hand at University Hospital Limerick and upon returning home from the hospital with his father Fergal at 1:50 a.m., they saw Ronan and Jamie Carey, Gary O’Gorman, and a fourth man coming towards their home.
In the attack, three cavity blocks were thrown, one hitting Evan’s brother Jason on the head.
In a victim impact statement to court, Jason Downes said he “could have been killed.”
In the case, Ronan Carey pleaded guilty to assault, burglary and criminal damage while Jamie Carey pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage with Mr O’Gorman pleaded guilty to criminal damage.
