Five males have been granted bail following their court appearance in relation to a ruckus at a church in Co Donegal over the weekend. The quintet faced Judge Ciaran Liddy at a specially arranged session of the Letterkenny District Court. They were indicted on a number of counts, encompassing public disruption and carrying of weaponries deemed offensive last Sunday.
The miscreants belong to two distinct families accused of causing the incident that occurred at the Church of Irish Martyrs during the Sunday Mass at 11.30 am. The disruption caused the service to be halted, as the crowd was requested to retreat within the sacred premises due to a disagreement that had ignited in the entrance area, which eventually sprawled to the car-park.
On Monday, the courthouse on the city’s High Road had an increased presence of law enforcement officials. Uniformed officers, detectives, and the Garda Armed Response Unit were on standby.
The first one to face court scrutiny was Michael McDonagh, 34, a resident of the Big Isle in Letterkenny, charged with intending to breach peace by means of threats and vituperative acts. Garda authorities voiced no disapproval for his bail.
Upon Garda Sergeant Jim Collins’ request, certain stipulations were imposed. Mr. McDonagh is to report at the Letterkenny Garda station on a thrice-weekly basis, maintain non-contact with other involved parties of the incident, and generally exhibit good conduct.
The court then welcomed the presence of the remaining four defendants, each belonging to the same family, inclusive of a patriarch and three offspring. Michael Reilly Junior, 31, a dweller of Kishogue Park, Lucan, Dublin, was accused of intending to breach peace through threats and abusive conduct. In addition, he was reported to be unlawfully in possession of a small axe and two sharp kitchen utilities.
The senior Michael Reilly, 56 years old, living at Tailteann Drive, in the Windtown region of Navan, County Meath, has been accused of acting in a threatening and abusive manner intended to stir up public disorder. He was further charged with possession of a potentially harmful object, specifically a slash-hook, with an aim to either harm or intimidate.
His two sons, Thomas Reilly, 21, and John Paul Reilly 19, also residing at Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, County Meath, face similar charges of displaying threatening and aggressive behaviour with a desire to incite public unrest. They were found in possession of a foldable garden saw, assumedly to intimidate or inflict harm.
Every member of the Reilly family has been granted conditional bail under the stipulation that they visit their nearest Garda station thrice a week and demonstrate good conduct. Additionally, they have been told to avoid County Donegal, with exceptions for court visits, and refrain from interacting with the wider McDonagh family.
The five men have been released on bail until the 16th of September, during which they will await further instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.