Five charged as part of feud investigation

Four men have been remanded in custody and a woman has been released on bail after they were charged by gardai investigating an incident where a shot was fired during a feud between two families in Cork.

Three members of the Keenan family, Chantelle Keenan (20), Jim Keenan (22) both of Ravensdale Close, Mahon and Michael Keenan (37) of St Michael’s Close, Mahon were all charged when they appeared at Cork District Court.

All three were charged with possession of various offensive weapons at the Mahon Flyover in Mahon in Cork on May 9^th, contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

And two members of the McDonagh family, Bernie McDonagh (37) of Park Court, Ballyvolane, Cork and Jim McDonagh (23) of Nash’s Boreen, Fairhill, Cork, were also charged, arising from the same investigation.

Both Bernie McDonagh and Jim McDonagh were charged with possession of offensive weapons at Anderson’s Quay on May 9^th, contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

Det Garda Paul Radley of Blackrock Garda Station said that gardai were objecting to bail in the case of the three Keenans as they feared that they would commit further offences if they were released on bail.

He said the charges stemmed from a garda investigation into an incident when a number of men armed with machetes and other weapons arrived in the Ravensdale Close area of Mahon to confront another group living in the area.

Gardai said they received a report that a shot was fired during the incident and a large force of gardai proceeded to the area as they were aware of a feud between two families – one from Mahon and one from the Fairhill area.

Det Garda Radley said that gardai later stopped a car on the Mahon Flyover in Mahon where they found Chantelle Keenan and he alleged that during a search, gardai found a Stanley knife in the jacket of her pocket.

He said gardai also stopped Jim and Michael Keenan in a pick-up truck in Mahon on May 9th and he alleged they found a slash hook and knife in the cab and pikes, hurleys, a pickaxe handle and a crowbar in the back of the pick-up.

He said that when gardai questioned the men about the weapons and implements, Michael Keenan said that they were for work purposes while Jim Keenan replied “We have to protect ourselves.”

He said that gardai were concerned that if all three were granted bail they would commit further offences in the feud which was escalating and which was posing a serious danger to both families and to the general public.

Det Garda Sharon Sweeney of Blackrock Garda Station told the court in relation to the McDonaghs that gardai received reports of three men abandoning a VW Touran on Anderson’s Quay in Cork also on May 9^th.

She said that gardai obtained CCTV footage, which she alleged showed Bernie McDonagh and Jim McDonagh discarding a series of weapons as they exited the car near the Cork Simon Shelter on Anderson’s Quay.

Det Garda Sweeney said that gardai also feared that if the two McDonaghs were granted bail they would commit further offences amid fears for the safety of the two families caught up in the feud and the general public.

Solicitors, Donal Daly for the Keenans and Eddie Burke and Vicky Buckley for the McDonaghs all applied for bail for their clients but Judge Olann Kelleher having heard an outline of the alleged facts, refused bail to the four men.

He remanded all four men to appear at Cork District Court on May 18^th by video link while he granted Chantelle Keenan bail with conditions and he remanded her to appear again at Cork District Court on June 15^th.