Four males charged after dad ‘savagely beaten' in Shankill house burglary
A 60-year-old father was "savagely" beaten in front of his terrified family when three machine gun-armed intruders forced entry into their home in Shankill, Dublin, on Wednesday, Gardaí have alleged.
Two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and Sean Doran, 26, of Earl Street South and widower Gregory Dunne, 60, from Oliver Bond Flats, both in Dublin 8, were charged with aggravated burglary at a residence in Shanganagh Cliffs, Shankill, Co Dublin and unlawful possession of a Czechoslovakian-made 9mm Skorpian machine pistol.
Both charges carry maximum life sentences. Dublin District Court heard the Garda ballistics section stated the gun was "capable of full automatic firing".
Mr Doran has an additional charge of assault causing harm to the 60-year-old homeowner, who suffered lacerations from blows to his face and head.
Evidence stated that he, his wife, aged 63, and their 35-year-old son were in "grave fear" they would not remain in the house, had moved to a hotel, and were not called to give evidence in the bail hearing.
It follows arrests by Gardaí from the Dublin Metropolitan East Crime Functioning Area, covering Dún Laoghaire, Shankill, Cabinteely, Blackrock and Dundrum.
Judge Michele Finan refused bail when they appeared at Dublin District Court on Saturday. They will appear again next week.
Each accused separately faced lengthy bail hearings where gardai cited the seriousness of the case, maintaining all four acted in joint enterprise.
Concerns were raised about alleged threats and violence used during the incident.
One officer submitted it was necessary to refuse bail to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.
Garda witnesses stated that the two masked teens in puffer jackets travelled to the location on an e-bike while Mr Doran came in a 2007-reg Honda Accord car driven by Mr Dunne.
Garda Liam Carroll alleged that one of the teenagers had a black face cover and approached the house, removed the gun from the front of his trousers and "pointed" at the family through the window.
Garda Carroll alleged the boys forced their way in the front door while Mr Doran came through a rear entrance before the homeowner was savagely beaten.
Detective Garda Michael Murphy told the court that Mr Doran delivered punches and kicks to the man's head and face, and there were bloodstains on the accused's footwear.
He agreed with defence counsel Sam Friel, instructed by solicitor Niall O'Connor, that the blood has yet to be analysed.
The barrister proposed setting bail with conditions telling the judge his client was about to set up a business and could work from home.
Detective Garda Darragh Phelan, the second teenager, used boxer shorts as a balaclava and left with the gun on an e-bike.
A civilian witness was said to have observed the youth discarding it before he allegedly drove onto the M50, where he crashed between Junction 12 and 13.
Gardai responded to a call from the couple's son, who was in a state of distress, saying, "A number of males were attacking his parents' home, and one had a gun; the male pointed the gun and directed it them".
The judge was told that the commotion could be heard over the phone line.
The car was stopped close to the house, and armed support officers arrived and removed the two men and the boy who was allegedly first to brandish the gun.
Garda Aidan Myers agreed with solicitor Yvonne Bambury that her client, Mr Dunne, drove to the house but did not go inside, but the officer added that it was a joint enterprise.
The court heard Mr Dunne, a father of two adult children, lost his partner of 40 years in 2021.
Solicitor Aoife McTaggart pleaded with the judge to note that the Children Act stated that juvenile detention should be a last resort. She said they were supported in court by visibly upset family members.
The solicitor stressed that they adored the boys who would abide by a range of strict conditions.
However, while stressing that the four, who had yet to enter pleas, had a presumption of innocence, Judge Finan denied all of the bail applications.
The boys will appear at the Children's Court on Monday, and the adult co-defendants will face their next hearings at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.
Judge Finan said directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions must be obtained.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Search under way for teenage swimmer off Meath coast
A search operation has been launched after a swimmer was reported missing in Laytown, Co Meath this evening. The teenage boy was reported missing by a member of the public just before 6.15pm. The Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter and the Drogheda Coast Guard Unit were tasked to respond to the incident. The helicopter and coast guard unit were at the scene just before 6.40pm. Gardaí and a unit of the National Ambulance Service are also at the scene. The search for the swimmer remains ongoing.
Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Teen (19) escaped from Garda station while outside having a cigarette, court told
The accused distracted the garda, ran through the back car park, scaled the high perimeter wall and 'made good his escape' A YOUNG man was detained at a Dublin garda station when he escaped from custody after 'distracting' an officer while outside having a cigarette, it is alleged. Michael McGinley (19) ran through a car park, scaled a perimeter wall and was at large for more than eight weeks before he was recaptured and brought before a court today, gardai said. After he was refused bail, the accused pointed at his girlfriend who was in court and said: 'I love this woman here. I will marry her one day. That's all I'll say.' Mr McGinley, of Ringfort Avenue, Balrothery, Co Dublin is charged with escaping unlawful custody at Balbriggan garda station on April 23. Michael McGinley News in 90 Seconds - June 20th At Dublin District Court this afternoon, Detective Garda Colm Fitzpatrick told Judge Mark O'Connell the accused was arrested at a guest house in Athboy, Co Meath yesterday where he was with his girlfriend after booking under a false name. He made no reply to the charge after caution. Objecting to bail, Det Gda Fitzpatrick said at the time of the alleged escape, the accused had appeared in Balbriggan District Court on several charges, was refused bail and remanded in custody. He was taken to the garda station to wait until the sitting judge had signed a warrant committing him to prison. Mr McGinley asked if he could go out for a cigarette, his request was acceded to and he was taken out the back of the station, the detective continued. The accused distracted the garda, ran through the back car park, scaled the high perimeter wall and 'made good his escape', the court was told. "He remained at large for eight weeks and one day, knowing he was unlawfully at large and despite his family asking him to hand himself in,' Det Gda Fitzpatrick said. Gardai searched a guest house in Athboy and found the accused in an upstairs bedroom attempting to get dressed and in the company of his girlfriend (18). He had used a false name when signing in and a stolen BMW was parked outside. Applying for bail, defence solicitor Holly Laher said her client was presumed innocent and would abide by bail conditions, including signing on at a garda station and keeping a night time curfew. Mr McGinley, a member of the Travelling community, was supported in court by his mother, partner and older brother. The accused could live with his brother in Wexford if released on bail, Ms Laher said. She asked the judge to take account of her client's young age and the detrimental effect prison would have on him. The garda said no conditions would assuage his fears over granting bail. Judge O'Connell said the risk that Mr McGinley might not attend court 'was an understatement' and refused bail. The judge added that he was 'not impressed by the deportment' of family members in court 'who find it funny.' 'They have been smiling and laughing, as he has been,' Judge O'Connell said. 'It suggests they are not taking this thing seriously at all." The accused was granted free legal aid and remanded in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court next week.
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man arrested after over €100,000 of cannabis plants seized following Louth raid
One man has been arrested after Gardaí seized over €100,000 of cannabis plants following a Louth raid. Late last night Thursday, 19 June, as part of Operation Tara and ongoing investigations into the sale and supply of drugs and related criminal activity, Gardaí attached to the Dundalk Drugs Unit assisted by Dundalk Detective and Crime Units executed a search under warrant at a residence in Dundalk, Louth. During the course of the search, approximately 126 mature cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of €100,800 was seized (analysis pending), along with cannabis with an estimated value of €34,000 which was packaged and ready for onward sale and supply. A man, aged in his late 20s was arrested at the scene in connection with the investigation and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda station in Co. Louth. He has since been charged and appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court this afternoon at 4pm on June 20. The drugs will be sent for analysis to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI). This seizure forms part of Operation Tara; an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on July 2, 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.
