A court in Westmeath has been told a "miracle" saved the life of a father who was repeatedly stabbed after a feud escalated in Mullingar. The ongoing dispute has led to 15 incidents in the past five weeks - and included shots being fired at a house, the discovery of a gun, death threats, assaults and criminal damage. Five men were arrested and appeared before a special sitting of Mullingar District Court last night. The judge was told the unrest in the town allegedly started on July 4th over a debt worth 50 euro.
39-year-old Michael Nevin Jr of Grange Heights, Mullingar, was charged with assault causing harm to Anthony Dinnegan, who is in his 20s, threatening to kill or cause him serious harm and production of a knife as a weapon on August 2 at Austin Friar Street in the town. Court heard the victim suffered wounds to his liver, bowel, and lung. The judge said it was a miracle he didn't die. Mr Nevin Jr was also charged with travelling in a stolen car without a licence or insurance, while also being accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to two other people.
His father - 61-year-old Michael Nevin Sr from Dalton Park, Mullingar, was accused of being unlawfully carried in the same stolen car and making threats to kill. The court heard they could face additional charges and they were refused bail. Two others appeared on charges related to travelling in a stolen car - and one is charged with criminal damage. One of the three was remanded on consent to bail - while the other two didn't face bail objections.
