A man charged with the manslaughter of popular Oughterard publican and teacher John Kenny has been sent forward for trial to Galway Circuit Criminal Court along with another man who faces a charge of withholding information from gardai conducting the investigation.
Marian Lingurar (35 ) of Orchard Court, Blackpool, Co Cork, and Florin Fitzpatrick (38 ) with a former address at The Green, College Road, Galway, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at yesterday’s sitting of the Galway District Court where Inspector Mick Coppinger confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to both men being sent forward to the next sittings of Galway Circuit Criminal Court commencing May 1 next where a date for trial will be set. The court further heard that books of evidence were served on the accused men at a recent Harristown court sitting.
Lingurar had been brought before a special sitting of Galway District Court last month, along with a 17-year-old boy, and charged with the manslaughter of 56-year-old Mr Kenny at Kenny’s Bar on Main Street, Oughterard, on September 25 last year. They were also charged with witholding information from investigating gardai between that date and October 4. Lingurar was refused bail in the district court, however, he was later granted bail in the High Court. This week Judge Fahy ordered that Lingurar be returned, on continuing bail, for trial to Galway Circuit Court. Legal aid was granted plus one junior and one senior counsel.
In the case of Fitzpatrick, the court heard he was refused bail in October last year and later granted bail in the High Court, however, he has been unable to meet the cash lodgment requirement. No application for legal aid was made and Fitzpatrick was returned for trial, in custody with consent to High Court bail, to Galway Circuit Court.
