Longford man accused of serious assault denied bail

A request by a Longford resident to vary his bail conditions was rejected at a sitting in Longford District Court last week.
Willie McGinley is charged with Section 3 assault, which occurred on June 11 this year.

His bail conditions required him to live outside Co Longford. His solicitor, Fiona Baxter, had applied for the conditions to be varied so that he could live at his father-in-law’s house outside Longford.
The Gardaí objected to the request, as the suspect was accused of committing a serious crime.
Following the incident on June 11, Mr McGinley was arrested at the scene, brought before a judge and subsequently made subject to a number of bail conditions.

Mr McGinley, of 5 Glack View, Longford, is charged with assault under Section 3 of the Act, which occurred outside Gala Service Station, Dublin Road, Longford on June 11.
It is alleged that Mr McGinley assaulted Jim Hanafin. Mr McGinley had been involved in an altercation with Mr Hanafin and his brother Denis.
The attack on Jim Hanafin led to him receiving emergency medical attention.

Outlining the events on June 11, which were captured on CCTV, Fiona Baxter told the court: “My client entered the shop. He was followed by Jim Hanafin. Then Denis Hanafin arrived on the scene. My client was outnumbered 2 to 1,” she explained.
She then stated that another Hanafil employee was on site.
While all this was going on, Mr. McGinley’s wife, Pauline, and their child were in Mr. McGinley’s jeep.
“On the CCTV footage my client indicated that Denis Hanafin was grabbing an object from the middle seat of his vehicle,” said Ms Baxter.

“My client has informed the police that threats have been made against him regarding his wife and child,” she added.
According to the gardaí, threats were made to Pauline McGinley while she was in the jeep outside the petrol station. She called the gardaí.
Gardaí were informed by witnesses that a knife was used to injure Mr Hanafin. This knife has never been recovered.
Mr McGinley was arrested and subsequently brought before the magistrate. There was no objection to his bail because he had given an address outside Longford.
Fiona Baxter told the court her client, his wife Pauline and their young child are currently living in difficult circumstances on a caravan site in Mullingar.
“There is no electricity or water at the site and there is also a dispute at the site between a number of families,” said Ms Baxter.

Mrs Baxter’s application to vary the bail conditions stated that her client lived at his father-in-law’s address a few miles outside the town of Longford.
“He wouldn’t do anything in County Longford other than sleep in this house,” Mrs Baxter said, telling the court her client had also suffered injuries in the altercation.
The house, in Coolenny, Dublin Road, belonged to his father-in-law, Martin McGinley. Mr McGinley promised the court he would effectively monitor his son-in-law’s modified bail conditions.

Martin McGinley also brought €1,000 to court as an indication of his intent.
“Mr McGinley is welcome to stay on my property,” he told the court.
Police Constable Alan Doherty told the court that police would be concerned Willie McGinley would obstruct witnesses if the bail conditions were changed.
Garda Doherty also told the court that the day before the hearing, on July 8, he met Willie McGinley at Mullingar Garda Police Station.
“I have received a complaint from Mr McGinley. A photograph has been circulated of his father-in-law’s house. Threats have been made to set the house on fire. The police would be very concerned if Mr McGinley was living in his father-in-law’s house,” Garda Doherty said.
Pauline McGinley told the court the family now live in a stable in Mullingar, which has no electricity or shower facilities.

She also assured the court that her husband would do nothing in County Longford other than live in her father’s house if the bail conditions were changed.
Sergeant Enda Daly objected to the change in bail conditions, telling the court that Jim Hanafin had been “effectively stabbed” by Willie McGinley.
“The objectives have changed in relation to the bail conditions, in relation to Mr McGinley and his legal team. I am shocked that this application has been made so quickly,” he said.

Ms Baxter summarised her application on behalf of her client, telling the court that “we are dealing with a young family here. Mr McGinley has done everything right. He is trying to put a roof over his family’s head.”
“This case will not be dealt with quickly. These investigations are taking a long time. This family is living in difficult circumstances. I ask that their human rights be respected,” she stated.

In her summing up, Judge Bernadette Owens said: “I am satisfied that it is reasonable under the terms of the bail conditions that Mr McGinley should reside outside Longford. I refuse the application.”