Three members of feuding traveller families today appeared in court in connection with an escalating feud between the two families.
At Ennis Courthouse, members from the Garda Armed Support unit were standing outside as a father and son from the Sherlock family and their nephew/cousin from the rival Molloy family appeared in court.
Three others remained in Garda custody today and are due to appear in court tomorrrow in connection with the feud.
In court, Insp Tom Kennedy outlined facts in relation to four alleged violent incidents that occurred on the streets of Ennis on Monday and Friday afternoons between rival family members in full view of shocked shoppers.
The families are related and in the case, Jim Sherlock (49) and son Declan Sherlock (23) of Dromard, Ennis are each accused of the criminal damage of a Ford Focus car belonging to Rosaleen Molloy on Monday at High Street Ennis.
Declan Sherlock is also accused of assaulting Sean Slattery last Friday at O’Connell Street, Ennis and assaulting Thomas Molloy at the Parnell Street Car Park in Ennis on Monday afternoon.
Jim Molloy (18) of Ballaghboy halting site, Quin Rd, Ennis is charged with assaulting Damien Sherlock last Friday afternoon at The Height in Ennis.
Judge Marie Keane refused bail to all three after hearing strong Garda objections to bail.
Det Sgt Brian Slattery said that it will be alleged that Jim Sherlock drove alleged assailants to carry out the criminal damage on the Ford Focus car when they attacked it with sticks and broke the windows of the car on a busy Ennis Street at 2.30pm on Monday afternoon.
Det Slattery said it will also be alleged that Declan Sherlock was involved “in a particularly nasty assault” when it will be alleged he used a baseball to attack Sean Slattery on O’Connell Street in Ennis at 3.30pm on Friday afternoon.
Det Slattery said: “Shoppers watched this assault and it was very frightening for them.”
Det Slattery said that the alleged assault by Jim Molloy on Damien Sherlock “was a very frightening experience for members of the public and the incident showed total disregard for anyone in the area”.
He said that “There is a history of a feud between the Molloys and Sherlocks. It has developed over past five weeks.”
Det Slattery said that it came to a height again last Friday when the alleged assault was carried out by Jim Molloy and a number of others.
Solicitor for Mr Molloy, Shíofra Hassett said that his client was attacked in Limerick prison earlier this year while on remand there and a serious threat has been made to him if he is remanded back to Limerick jail.
Jim Sherlock is a widower of nine years and said that he would relocate his five children and one four year old grand-child to Dublin is he is granted bail.
He said: “I don’t want to be part of his feud. I want nothing to do with it.”
Mr Sherlock’s son, Declan also stated that he would be relocating to Dublin if he secured bail.
He said: “I want out of this feud.”
Judge Keane said that she was refusing bail to all three stating that the feud has clearly escalated.
Judge Keane remanded all three to appear to appear via video link in court next Tuesday.
