Andrew Carey
A JUDGE has praised the work of Limerick Gardaí who intercepted an “armed posse” on their way to the home of a family who were subjected to a high level of “premeditated intimidation”.
Detective Garda Ivan Muldoon told Limerick Circuit Court that Gardaí received confidential information that eight men were on the way to a house at Bru na Grudhain, Castletroy in Limerick on October 16, 2013.
The men, who were travelling in a Volkswagen Golf car, were armed with a variety of weapons including a pick axe handle, screwdrivers and a car jack.
Gardaí, who had earlier evacuated Christopher and Nora O’Donnell and their children from the house, intercepted the car before “serious damage could be done”.
Detective Muldoon said the incident was connected to a dispute between members of two extended families.
Three men before the court, Shane Ryan Casey (21) of April Rise, Old Cork Road; Jason Stokes (23) of Woodpark, Castleconnell and Wesley Stokes (20) of Curragh Birin, Castletroy pleaded guilty to the possession of weapons.
Shane Ryan Casey also pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the house in Castletroy and to two other charges dating back to September 2, 2013 where he was found in possession of a hurley and with causing criminal damage to the former home of the O’Donnell family.
Stating that such intimidatory incidents could not be tolerated in society, Judge Tom O’Donnell they were “premeditated and always carried out by a large group to maximise the fear”.
Following their guilty pleas which were entered last year, the court heard that both Wesley and Jason Stokes had engaged well with the Probation services.
Suspending an 18-month prison sentence for three years for both Jason and Wesley Stokes, Judge O’Donnell said they were part of a “maximum effort to intimidate the family, but it was extremely fortunate that the armed posse was intercepted by Gardaí”.
Jailing Shane Ryan Casey for two years and six months for the four offences, the judge said he was one of the “main protagonists” in the incident and he had to take a serious view of that.
As he was taken into custody, Casey, who has previous convictions for beating a horse to death, shouted profanities at the court claiming that he just wanted to “spend time with his woman” and warned that “there’s a new family feud in Limerick”.
