UPDATE: Three in custody and two on bail following Longford court appearance for violent assault

Three men have been remanded in custody and two juveniles remanded on bail, after they appeared in court last week charged with a violent disorder incident, which occurred in Longford town last June.

Denis Hannifin (39), Curry, Athlone Road, Longford, Thomas Hannifin (41), Dublin Road, Longford, Willie Hannifin (33), Knockahaw, Dublin Road Longford, and two juveniles appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes at Longford District Court.

All five were arrested on Tuesday morning, April 7, and charged with violent disorder by Gda John Hanley.

Two of the accused were also charged with possession of knives and a third was charged with possession of an axe.

The incident occurred on June 2, 2019 at approximately 5pm at Texaco filling station on the Dublin Road, Gda Hanley explained to the court.

“The injured party was in the shop,” he said, adding that a fight started and escalated outside.

“Five people arrived and one suspect went into the shop while the other four waited outside in the jeep. Something happened inside, which spilled out into the carpark. Two males then exited the jeep and went to the front of the shop,” Gda Hanley continued.

“One of them punched the injured party and one of them pulled a knife up his back, stabbing him. There was still punching going on and, as the injured party got up, the fourth suspect swung an axe.

“They then separated and got back into the jeep and the victim managed to run away to the road. There was a slash on his back, through his clothing. He needed 12 stitches and was hospitalised but was checked out that evening.”

The axe and knives used in the attack were not found, Gda Hanley said, but there is CCTV footage of very good quality, which clearly shows all five of the accused. The victim, Ronan Stokes, also made a statement and identified the five accused.

When giving evidence in court last week, Mr Stokes said that he’s “very scared” to leave his home for any reason.

“I went to the garage to get fags when Tommy Hannafin came over to me,” Mr Stokes recalled of the incident at Texaco last June.

“I was intimidated so I threw the first punch. Tommy got me in a headlock.

“I got two stabs in the back. Since then they do this signal whenever I’m passing in the car,” he said, drawing his finger across his throat.

“I took that as they’re going to kill me,” he added.

Mr Stokes explained that mediation attempts between the families had taken place but were unsuccessful.

“There’s people coming to our house to make peace but they’re telling the peacemakers to tell us they’re going to shoot at our house if we don’t drop charges,” he explained, adding that the accused were regularly making faces and the ‘slit throat’ gesture at him.

Mr Stokes explained that he no longer goes to the gym to train and hasn’t competed in boxing or other sports since last year.

“Why did this dispute happen?” Judge Hughes asked of Patrick Carty who was defending the accused.

Mr Carty explained that, from his understanding of the feud, a member of the Hannifin family had rented a house to a member of the Stokes family.

“The tenancy came to an end and they had a meeting to agree on how the house would be vacated on the morning of this alleged incident,” he said.

“It went off peacefully but subsequently these incidents allegedly occurred.”

Due to the seriousness of the charges before the court, Judge Hughes refused jurisdiction. Inspector Frank Finn, on behalf of the State, explained that DPP directions were for trial on indictment.

He also revealed that both Dennis Hannifin and Thomas Hannifin had been granted High Court bail, with rigorous conditions.

“So the High Court decides to grant bail where I decided to refuse bail,” said a surprised Judge Hughes.

“But I’m sitting here now. These are not insignificant incidents. This was attempted murder, if one was to go to that extent. They’re not charged with that, of course, but it is very serious.

“And then the High Court heard this and decided to grant bail. The judge obviously didn’t ask for details and didn’t get the colour of it, but it’s very serious.”

Judge Hughes proceeded to remand Denis Hannifin, Thomas Hannifin and Willie Hannifin in custody by consent to a sitting of Longford District Court which took place yesterday, Tuesday, April 14.

In the case of the two juveniles, Judge Hughes said that he would consider bail with strict conditions if they could provide €3,000 each in cash surety.

“I want them to have skin in the game because there is ongoing intimidation and they’ll lose their money if they breach their bail,” he said.

Later that afternoon, the mothers of the two juveniles returned to court with the money and the pair were remanded on bail to June 23 for DPP directions.