Man charged with smashing pub and car windows with hurley

A Dublin man charged with causing €1,900 worth of damage with a hurley to pub windows and a car window in Ballaghaderreen has been returned for trial to Roscommon Circuit Court next week.

Rhys Mooney, aged 30, with an address at 1 Marewood Grove, Ballymun, Co Dublin, appeared before Ballaghaderreen District Court charged with two counts of criminal damage and two counts of possessing a hurley in an intimidating manner.

Mooney is charged with smashing all the front windows of The Hatch Bar on The Square, Ballaghaderreen with a hurley on August 5th, 2024.

The damage caused was valued at €1,200.

On August 4th, 2024, at Pound Street in the town, he is also charged with smashing a car window with a hurley to the value of €700 belonging to Hertz Car Rental.

On the same dates and at the same locations, he is further charged with having a hurley to cause injury, incapacitate or intimidate a person contrary to section 9 (5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990.

Pointing out to Judge Vincent Deane that Judge James Faughnan had previously refused jurisdiction, State Solicitor for County Roscommon Kieran Madigan said that his application was to return Mooney for trial to the next sitting of Roscommon Circuit Court, starting on March 10th.

An application by the accused’s barrister Neasa O’Callaghan for legal aid, including representation of one solicitor and one senior counsel, was also granted by Judge Deane.