Judge denies bail in alleged Longford shooting incident

Two men charged in connection with an incident where shots were fired in a public place will go before Longford Circuit Court next month.

Jamie Dinnegan (32) of 18 Grian Ard Longford was before Judge Bernadette Owens on five charges, while Michael Ward (34) of 30 Palace Crescent, Longford was up on seven charges.

Mr Dinnegan faces charges of possession of a shotgun, possession of a shotgun without a certificate, possession of shotgun cartridges, possession of a shotgun cartridges without a certificate and one charge of recklessly discharging a firearm on January 24, 2022 at Palace Crescent, Ardnacsassa.

Garda Shane O’Connor gave evidence of serving the Book of Evidence on Mr Dinnegan on the morning of the court sitting. Sergeant Conor McShane told Judge Owens that the prosecution was objecting to bail.

A High Court application for bail for the defendant, who has been in custody since late August, was refused the previous week. Counsel for Mr Dinnegan, Niall Flynn, said the stumbling block in his client's High Court application was the provision of an independent surety.

Before sending the matter forward to the Circuit Court Judge Owens heard a lengthy and contested bail application.

Garda O’Connor outlined the background to the matter. He said the Garda objection to bail was grounded in the fact that all charges were “of a serious nature” and alleged the defendant discharged a weapon in a public place in the middle of the day as children were coming out of a crèche.

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The Garda's evidence was that on the January day tensions were escalating between two feuding families. Gardaí received 23 phone calls in a 20 minute period from panicked civilians about a firearms discharge at Palace Crescent, Ardnacsasa and a man being hit by a white van.

When officers arrived at the scene they saw Mr Dinnegan on the ground, he was stripped to his vest and boxers. It was alleged the clothes were removed to hamper a garda investigation. An ambulance arrived and conveyed Mr Dinnegan to Mullingar’s Midland Regional Hospital.

Garda O’Connor told the court that three unused 12 gauge shotgun cartridges and two spent shells were found in a storm drain near where the injured man was on the ground. A rubber butt stock for a shotgun and wadding from a discharged shotgun shell were also found at the scene.

The garda alleged that Jamie Dinnegan discharged two shots in the direction of the Keenan family before a white van drove at him at high speed, knocking him to the ground.

Two clips of video footage taken on mobile phones were shown to the court. The first showed a van in the distance and the sound of two shots being fired. The second captured the moment Mr Dinnegan is hit by a van and sent flying through the air.

Details of a text from a WhatsApp group on the defendant's mobile phone were read to the judge. One said: “I love you Jamie,” and continued, “You are the iron man. Not even the rap of a van could take you out.”

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Garda O’Connor said Forensic Science Ireland matched residue from the shotgun shells and residue from Mr Dinnegan. He told the judge it was the Garda belief that escalating tensions between the families stemmed from an dispute at a New Year’s Eve party in 2021. He alleged that Johnny Keenan refused to stand in for a photo at a party and this resulted in tit-for-tat incidents.

Garda O'Connor said there were a number of incidents between the families since February '22. The Garda highlighted one on March 16 when the defendant's wife was allegedly involved in an altercation.

Sergeant Conor McShane said Garda concerns regarding the defendant's release on bail are heightened by the fact the firearm was never recovered. Sgt McShane said the defendant was reckless in dealing with a matter that should have been dealt with by Gardaí. The sergeant alleged that tensions between the families continued to heighten: “If released on bail he could engage in further feud retaliation incidents.”

Counsel for the defendant, Mr Flynn, said of 120 statements made to Gardaí about the matter only five identified Mr Dinnegan as the shooter. The barrister said all five of those statements were members of the Keenan family.

The barrister pointed out this altercation happened 20 months ago: “Although Gardaí say there is an ongoing feud, no males have been brought before the court for any other incident,” Mr Flynn said.

Counsel called Thomas Oliver Keenan to the witness box. When asked by counsel if there was “an ongoing violent feud” the witness said: “That is not true, judge.”

Mr Keenan accepted there had been a “falling out” between his brother and his wife, but insisted it had “nothing to do with anyone else”.

“I'm telling you now, under oath, that my wife and my brother's argument had nothing to do with Jamie Dinnegan,” Mr Keenan said.

The witness said: “Our families have no issue with each other. They meet at shops, pubs, and schools every day and there are no problems. Even at the Festival we were out together watching Nathan Carter and there were no problems and the Gardaí saw us together.”

The second witness to give evidence was Cindy Dinnegan. Ms Dinnegan repeated the suggestion that there were no hostilities between the families and that any other incidents were not related.

In concluding Mr Flynn said his client is a father of one and has not come to the attention of Gardaí in the last 20 months.

In reaching her decision on the bail application Judge Owens said the prosecution had reached the threshold to deny bail. The judge said the letters of withdrawal and the interference with a possible Garda investigation by removing the clothes were matters of concern.

The judge said she did not accept the evidence of Mr Keenan that there were no ongoing issues between the families.

The judge said: “Given the serious nature of the charges I am not satisfied that any conditions imposed will be sufficient. I am refusing the bail application.”

As the judge concluded matters Mr Dinnegan said: “Is it not innocent until proven guilty? It looks like in this court of law it's guilty until proven innocent.”

The judge remanded the defendant in custody to appear before Longford District Court on October 3 next.

In a connected case Michael Ward (34) of 30 Palace Crescent, Longford was also sent forward for trial at Longford Circuit Court. Mr Ward was served the Book of Evidence by Garda O'Connor on the morning of the court sitting.

The charges against the defendant are that on January 24, 2022 at Palace Crescent, Ardnacassa he was the driver of a vehicle that injured Jamie Dinnegan, that he intentionally engaged in conduct, that is driving a motor vehicle at Jamie Dinnegan, to create a substantial risk of death, that he failed to stay at the scene of an accident, he failed to give assistance to the injured party and that he failed to give information to Gardai.

Mr Ward was returned for trial at the next sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court on October 3 next.

The defendant was granted legal aid in the name of solicitor Brid Mimnagh and one counsel issued with an alibi warning.

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