Criminal pleads guilty to additional charges following shooting in Clare village

A CONVICTED drug dealer from County Clare who was at the "top of the pyramid" of the west coast drugs scene has admitted two further offences having previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

At the Central Criminal Court this Monday, Tony McInerney asked Mr Justice Paul McDermott if there was "any chance" he could sentence him immediately.

However, the judge refused the request, telling McInerney he first needs to hear details of the offences from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The judge set October 16 as the date for a sentencing hearing.

McInerney, aged 27, formerly of Glenina, Gort Road, Ennis was arraigned on a charge that on January 18, 2020 at Pound Street, Sixmilebridge, County Clare he intentionally or recklessly discharged a firearm creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

He was also arraigned on a count that on a date unknown between January 1, 2019 and January 18, 2020 at Inis Eagla, Shannon he threatened to kill or cause serious harm to Daniel Harty Snr, intending Mr Harty Snr to believe the threat would be carried out.

He pleaded guilty to both charges.

In May, McInerney pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Jnr at Pound St, Sixmilebridge on January 18, 2020.

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

He was was previously jailed for 12 years after he was caught running a "cocaine factory" but this sentence was later reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal.

Judge Brian O'Callaghan at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court heard that McInerney was 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 possession of 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.