Longford Circuit Court: 'Micheál Martin is conspiring to murder my wife and son,' claims accused
Darren Dowler of 70 Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown, County Longford, appeared before Longford Circuit Court on multiple charges
A 35 year old man who appeared before Longford Circuit Court on charges of alleged assault, possession of a pellet gun and obstruction of a Garda in his duty, has claimed the Taoiseach Micheál Martin is conspiring to murder his wife and son.
Appearing before Judge Kenneth Connolly, Darren Dowler of 70 Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown, County Longford, stands charged with three counts of assault causing harm, one count of possession of a pellet gun, and one count of obstruction of a peace officer, all of which occurred on February 20, 2024 at 70 Abhainn Glas in Edgeworthstown.
Mr Dowler also told the court he had been unable to obtain legal representation despite having phoned “all the solicitors on Google” and concluded he had been “blacklisted” as they had refused to represent him as soon as he disclosed his name.
It was established that Mr Dowler last had legal representation around June 2025.
When asked by Judge Connolly to recall the efforts he had made over the last year to acquire legal representation, Mr Dowler replied, “I have literally rang every solicitor on Google. Literally, from top to bottom. I put it in alphabetical order and went through every one of them. As soon as I said my name, ‘no we can’t take you.’ So that’s what gave me the impression that I was blacklisted. I was like, everybody? Even in Sligo? Cork? Limerick? What?”
In response, Judge Connolly said hundreds of people had come before the court on trial each year and that he had never before heard of a person having contacted every solicitor in Ireland and still being unable to secure representation.
“I rang everybody, Judge. As soon as I mention my name, gone!” Mr Dowler explained.
“And how would they know of you?” Judge Connolly inquired, to which Mr Dowler replied, “I don’t know! I have one complaint and one complaint only and it’s a very serious complaint. I said it in the District Court, I asked one question and I keep asking it…”
“Which is?”
“What’s anybody doing about Micheál Martin conspiring to murder my wife and son? I have asked that question for years. He jumped onto a 999 phone call where €1,500 was stolen from us via solicitors and via Gardaí. There was a whole bunch of collusion and a big mess up where €1,500 of compensation was stolen from us. We were left homeless. We were told to just go fend for ourselves. As Micheál said, ‘go fend for yourselves.’ His words. We have been fending for ourselves for nearly 10 years.”
It was at this point that Judge Connolly informed the defendant that he had no idea what he was talking about.
One of the issues before the court was Mr Dowler’s request for his bail condition of signing on at the Garda station to be relaxed so he could attend the dentist to have surgery.
“Have you got a dentist or are you attending one?” Judge Connolly inquired.
Mr Dowler replied, “I’m terrified of attending a dentist because there are surgeons who have done damage to my wife and son. I’m in fear for my safety,” he explained.
Judge Connolly said he would have had no issue with relaxing the sign on conditions had Mr Dowler produced a letter from a dentist confirming his appointments and surgery, however he had not taken any steps to doing that. The judge pointed out that he had also failed to engage any solicitor since June 2025 and questioned if that situation would change if the case were “put back to kingdom come.”
“2038, would you have a solicitor then?” the Judge asked the defendant.
“Judge! You’re going to have to go and ask Micheál to take his boot off people’s necks,” Mr Dowler replied. “That’s the way I’m looking at it. You’re going to have to talk to these politicians who are putting the foot down and trying to dictate rather than have a democracy and a sit down at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and resolve the situation. It’s not rocket science to sit at mammy’s table and have a discussion. It’s democracy. I’m being dictated to.”
Turning to the prosecution, barrister Stephen Faulkner, Judge Connolly said, “Mr Dowler came into court and said he wanted to get a solicitor but that it’s not possible for him at the moment due to the withdrawal of services so that leaves me in a very difficult position. I don’t believe Mr Dowler will have a solicitor the next time we’re in court. I’ll take it at face value what he says about trying to get a solicitor but for whatever reason cannot get one.”
He added, “He says he has contacted almost every solicitor in Ireland but cannot get one even though he has the benefit of legal aid. I have never encountered somebody that cannot get any solicitor, as far as I can remember. I even told Mr Dowler on one occasion that I thought he was the common denominator in this, and that led to a complaint to the judicial council which was inadmissible. I don’t mind that, I take that on the chin. What do I do with this matter however?”
Mr Faulkner BL replied that the prosecution was “very eager” to get this matter out of the list but suggested that Mr Dowler be afforded one more opportunity.
Judge Connolly agreed to do so, adding that it was very much against his will and that he was only doing so because of the solicitor’s strike.
“Mr Dowler I am very frustrated” he told the defendant,
“So am I Judge, you can imagine my situation! I have 4 children to be rearing; my passport is up; I can’t go to work. I can’t open a bank account.”
Replied Judge Connolly, “I will list your trial for October 9. If you have a solicitor, fine, if you don’t have a solicitor, fine. I am still going on with the matter.”
Mr Dowler was remanded on continuing bail to October 6 with his trial listed for October 9.