Five men are due back in court his week charged with an assault at an Ennis graveyard in which another man had his finger cut off.
A man in his 20’s is being treated at Galway University Hospital following the incident at a funeral in Drumcliffe on Saturday afternoon.
There was a strong garda presence, including members of the armed support unit at a special sitting of Ennis District Court yesterday in connection with the alleged attack .
Five members of the settled travelling community in Ennis, 29 year old Martin Joyce of 2 Watery Road, 27 year old Patrick Joyce of 6 Watery Road, 34 year old David Joyce of 8 Oakwood Drive, Watery Road, 59 year old John Joyce of 1 Watery Road and his son 30 year old John Joyce Junior of 17 Glen Sheen, on the Gort Road are all charged with assault causing harm to another man at Drumcliffe, Ennis on Saturday afternoon.
Martin, Patrick, David and John Joyce Junior were also charged with possession of an offence weapon- namely a machete on the same date.
Giving evidence Inspector Tom Kennedy of Ennis Garda Station told the court that the state alleges the five accused arrived at a funeral in Drumcliffe on Saturday afternoon and that four of the men armed machetes set upon the alleged victim who had his little finger on his left hand severed- suffered injury to his ring finger and also sustained blows to the head.
He was initially treated at Ennis General but then taken to Galway University Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Objecting to bail Inspector Kennedy told the court its was the states belief the assault was premeditated and that the alleged victim was lucky his injuries weren’t more serious.
However legal representatives for accused said it wasn’t a a part of any ongoing feud and that all five men had freely presented themselves for questioning to Ennis garda Station
Judge Aeneas MMcCarthy remanded them in custody with consent to bail and all five are due back before Ennis District Court this Friday.
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