Two men and a juvenile have appeared before Longford District Court this afternoon after Gardaí seized weapons during a vehicle search in Ballymahon. Following a report of suspicious behaviour, local Gardaí attended a filling station on the Athlone road in Ballymahon at approximately 11:45 on Sunday evening. Two men aged in their 20s and a 17 year old boy were arrested at the scene following the discovery of a number of offensive weapons in the vehicle. These included a kitchen Knife and a machete, with local Gardaí stating the incident is related to feud violence.
The charges range from a breach of section 9 of the firearms and offensive weapons act to various public order, criminal damage and road traffic offences. Martin Doyle and his brother Paddy Joe Doyle appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court this morning. A 17 year old boy with a Galway address also appeared in connection with the incident in Ballymahon. During a contested bail hearing, Garda Eamonn Fitzpatrick of Ballymahon Garda Station described how CCTV footage from the filling station reportedly shows Martin Doyle leave the driver seat of his vehicle before striking his fellow passenger, the 17 year old male, with the butt of a kitchen knife.
It is the states argument that Martin Doyle then re-entered the car and drove dangerously across the forecourt of the filling station causing damage to nearby car wash. Mr Doyle, who is serving a two year driving ban, narrowly missed striking the teen passenger according to Garda Fitzpatrick. The Court heard how the incident is believed to be related to an ongoing feud between the accused to a gang in Edgeworthstown. A bail application was contested by Gardaí but was granted by Judge Owens under strict conditions.
The three individuals must pay a €200 bond, sign on three times a week in Galway Garda station and stay out of Longford except for court or official appointments. Martin Doyle, who has 63 previous convictions including several for possession of a weapon, assault and public order incidents, also required an independent surety of €1,000 to take up bail. The three were remanded on bail and will reappear before the court in the coming weeks.
