Five Athlone men charged in connection with an alleged attack at the home of Joe Joyce in Moate last Sunday were remanded in custody with consent to bail at Tuesday’s sitting of Longford District Court.
Timmy Ward (22 ), Joseph Ward (29 ), Bernie Ward (28 ), Edward Ward (18 ) and Patrick Ward (33 ), all with addresses at Blackberry Lane, Athlone, appeared before Judge Patrick Clyne charged with damaging windows at the home of Joe Joyce and of damaging cars belonging to Margaret Joyce and Mary Teresa Joyce at Farnagh, Moate on October 3 last.
Detective Sergeant Eamon Curley told the court that the defendants were charged in connection with the matter on the morning of the court sitting. He said that “hatchets and pitchforks” were used in the alleged incident, windows and doors smashed in at the home, and serious damage caused to two cars. The court then heard that the defendants were identified by witnesses inside the house last Sunday.
Det Sgt Curley also pointed out to the court that “nobody was injured” during the dispute, highlighting that gardaí were opposed to bail on the grounds that the incident was part of an ongoing dispute and there was genuine fear there would be a recurrence “and something a lot more serious could happen”.
Defence solicitor Tony McGlynn told the court that his clients were unemployed, in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, and were willing to give an undertaking to the court that they would stay away from the Joyce family.
In deliberating on the matter, Judge Clyne granted conditional bail, with sureties ranging from €2,000 to €10,000, and ordered the defendants not to interfere with witnesses in the case or go within a five mile radius of Moate “save for bone fide travel”.
As none of the five defendants could raise these figures, all were remanded in custody to appear at Harristown District Court this morning (October 8 ).
