A 19 year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged ‘vicious’ machete assault that has left his first cousin with ‘life changing injuries’, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, William Keenan of John Paul Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis has appeared in court charged with the assault causing harm on his name-sake and cousin, William Keenan at Clancy Park, Ennis on July 27th this year..
Mr Keenan is also charged with, in the course of a dispute, producing a machete capable of inflicting serious injury contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.
Objecting to bail for the accused, Det Garda Declan Keavey told the court that the injured party “sustained life changing injuries and required eight hour surgery on his leg and will require further medical intervention going forward”.
Det Keavey described the alleged machete assault as “vicious”.
Det Keavey said that there is a strong possibility that the accused “will receive further more serious charges in relation to this investigation”.
Solicitor for Mr Keenan, Tara Godfrey said that her client denies the charges before the court.
Det Garda Keavey said that Mr Keenan is a flight risk, spends most of his time in the UK and was only arrested by Gardai when he came back to Ireland to attend a wedding here.
Det Keavey said that Mr Keenan doesn’t have the use of a passport but travels between here and the UK via Belfast where he doesn’t require travel documents.
The detective said that Gardai fear that Mr Keenan will not show up in court to face trial.
He said that it will be alleged that Mr Keenan travelled to Scotland by ferry from Belfast after the alleged assault in July.
Det Keavey said that Gardai were also objecting to bail based on the seriousness of the charge and the strength of evidence against him that includes a statement from the alleged injured party.
Det Keavey said that the accused and the alleged injured party grew up together.
Det Keavey said that if Mr Keenan was to be granted bail Gardai would not accept that he reside at a Co Clare address.
Ms Godfrey said that her client has no previous convictions and is willing to stay at a bail address in Finglas, Dublin.
Judge Olivia Traynor said that she was remanding Mr Keenan in custody with consent to bail “on very onerous conditions”.
Judge Traynor said that bail would be only granted after Gardai are satisfied with the Finglas bail address and that Mr Keenan lodge €5,000 to court.
Judge Traynor also ordered Mr Keenan to sign on daily at Finglas Garda Station, stay out of Co Clare save for court appearances, have no contact with the alleged injured party, agree not to apply for any travel documentation and not travel outside the jurisdiction.
