Machete used in Ennis 'broad daylight attack' recovered by garda divers
Eighteen-year-old Clare man charged with assault allegedly threw weapon into river following unprovoked attack
Gardaí have recovered a machete used in an alleged ‘random’ broad daylight machete attack on a busy Ennis street last Wednesday afternoon.
Trevor Quinn (18) of Hermitage, Ennis appeared before Ennis District Court last week charged in connection with an alleged machete attack on Shane Tuohy at Ennis's Mill Rd, after being arrested by gardaí on Wednesday, November 20.
According to gardaí, the alleged assault was ‘random’ and there was no motive, and Mr Tuohy suffered very serious injuries to his neck and ear, which needed to be sewn back on.
Garda Alison White told the court on Thursday, November 21, that Mr Quinn is facing four separate charges and they are the assault causing harm of Mr Tuohy, a charge of violent disorder on Ennis’s Mill Rd and charges concerning the use of a machete and the possession of a carpet knife.
The weapon used in this attack was discarded by Mr Quinn in the River Fergus at Wood Quay, and has since been recovered by divers attached to the Garda Water Unit on Friday, November 22.
During the contested bail hearing, Judge Alec Gabbett said that “the damage done is extraordinary” when viewing images of Mr Tuohy's injuries.
“This young man’s ear was nearly sliced off. It is but for the grace of God that this man is alive,” he said.
Judge Gabbett said that the photos of the alleged injuries suffered show that they “were made with an extremely sharp implement with almost surgical precision”.
Objecting to bail for the accused, Sgt Shane Graham said that the alleged assault was ‘random’ and there was no motive.
He said: "It was a random coming together of young people on Parnell Street. People that were messing on the street who came across the wrong person who was allegedly concealing weapons and allegedly indiscriminately attacked other people.”
Sgt Graham said that no bail conditions could satisfy Gardai stating that local Guards could not be expected to monitor Mr Quinn's house 24/7.
Judge Gabbett refused bail and remanded Mr Quinn in custody to Limerick prison to appear via video link at Ennis District Court this Wednesday.
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