Three bailed following alleged 'claw hammer' incident in Cootehill

Three men have been remanded on bail and barred from entering Cootehill following an incident at a house in the town in the early hours of this morning in which the residents were allegedly confronted with weapons including a wrench, claw hammer and nail bar.

Desmond McMahon (21) Moylemuck, Lisnalong, Ballybay, Monaghan; Conor Lynch (20), Derry, Latton, Castleblayney; and Patrick Hamilton (26), Carnaveigh, Latton, Castleblayney all appeared before Virginia District Court in the past hour charged in relation to the alleged incident at a house in Drumnaveil, Cootehill.

Mr McMahon is charged that, on April 20, 2018, at the property, he had with him a 'Stillsen' wrench and attempted to unlawfully incapacitate or intimidate a person in seeking confrontation with a named family, at a named address in the Drumnaveil estate.

Mr Lynch and Mr Hamilton each face the same charge but in Mr Lynch's case he's accused of wielding a 'claw hammer'; while Mr Hamilton is alleged to have carried a 'nail bar'.

Inspector Valerie Gahan, on behalf of the State, did not object to bail for the defendants, provided strict conditions were imposed on them.

All three were granted bail in their own bonds of €100 each. They are to reside at their home addresses; have no contact with the family in question; have no contact with State witnesses in the case and observe a curfew between the hours of 11pm and 6am with gardaí given liberty to check on them. All three were also barred from entering the town of Cootehill.

They were all remanded on bail to Cavan District Court on May 24 for DPP direction.