Two Longford men have been jailed over a violent feud related incident involving a firearm and a hit and run. Jamie Dinnegan from Grian Ard, Longford and Noel Ward of Springlawn, Longford were sentenced to a combined total of over 35 months in prison. A third man, Michael Ward from Palace Crescent was banded from driving and remanded on bail until November for sentence.
Evidence provided to the Court by Gardaí explained the feud started between the groups following an incident where a member of the Keenan family refused to be in a photo with a member of another family during Christmas 2021. The issue came to a head on the 24th of January 2022 when Gardaí received reports of a disturbance related to large gathering of people at Palace Crescent, Ardnacassa off the Ballinalee Road. Gardaí attended and found no incident, with further calls coming later in the day reporting additional disturbances culminating in a report that a person was dead on the ground in the estate. On arrival Gardaí discovered 33 year old Jamie Dinnegan on the ground injured with witnesses stating he had been hit by a van driven by Michael Ward, that had fled the scene.
Mr Dinnegan was taken by ambulance to Mullingar Hospital for treatment but sustained only bruising and scraps from the incident. Video footage of the incident shows apparent gunfire and then Dinnegan being struck by a white van that sped across a grassy area at 60 kilometres an hour, with Gardaí later recovering it a short distance away. While gunshots can be heard in the video evidence and witness testimony confirmed its presence, no firearm was recovered from the scene. The owner of the vehicle, Michael Ward, had insisted to Gardaí that the van had been stolen after he left his sole key in the ignition, a claim disputed by the State who confirmed a follow up search found keys in the accused's property.
Jamie Dinnegan had previously faced charges including possession on an unlicensed firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm, but on pleading guilty to a charge of Affray, the DPP ordered the non prosecution of the other charges. 26 year old Noel Ward received a similar decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions, and plead guilty to a charge of Affray. Mr Dinnegan was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months in prison for affray, suspending the final eight months and crediting time served.
While Noel Ward was sentenced to 19 months in prison, with five months suspended. Judge Kenneth Connolly branded the incident and the reasoning behind the fued as 'utter nonsense', stating that any further violence would not be tolerated by the court. He also claimed the nature of the incident besmirch the reputation of the town and has a major impact of the quality of life of those living locally. Judge Connolly disqualified Michael Ward from driving for 4 years and remanded him on bail for sentencing in November on foot of a probation report.
