Convicted drug dealer pleads guilty to attempted murder of man in Clare village

A CONVICTED drug dealer who was at the "top of the pyramid" of the west coast drugs scene has admitted to the attempted murder of a man more than three years ago.

At the Central Criminal Court this Monday,  Tony McInerney (aged 27), formerly of Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis, entered a guilty plea to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Jnr at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, County Clare, on January 18, 2020.

Two men, aged 21 and 66, suffered non-life threatening incidents in the gun attack on January 18.

McInerney, who was caught red-handed running a "cocaine factory" in the same year, had his 12-year jail-term cut by two years on appeal last week.

He was initially jailed for 12 years by Judge Brian O'Callaghan at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court in May 2021 after he was caught mixing cocaine when gardaí raided a property outside Ennis.

He had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Kilfilum, Ennis, on September 23, 2020, and to possessing crime cash on the same date.

The sentencing judge heard that McInerney is “at the top of the pyramid” of the Clare drug scene and had been a target of the divisional drugs unit. 

The matter has been put back to July 10 next for mention, with the defendant remanded in custody.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon directed that a victim impact statement be prepared by that date.  

He remains further charged with directing within the State the activities of a criminal organisation between December 1, 2019, and January 18, 2020, contrary to Section 71 A of the Criminal Justice Act; intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct relating to the discharge of a firearm with the intention of murdering Daniel Harty, on January 18 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge; issuing a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Daniel Harty Jnr between January 1, 2019, and January 18, 2020, at Inis Ealga, Shannon and issuing a threat on August 25, 2020, to Chelsea Harty at De Lacey Park, Shannon, intending Ms Harty to believe the threat would be carried out to kill or cause serious harm to Daniel Harty Jnr.