This article is from page 6 of the 2006-02-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A BUSINESSMAN who dismissed a woman working for him, was subsequently assaulted by four of her relations in Liscannor.
Convicted at Ennis District Court were brothers Michael (33) and Joseph (28) Malone, of Ballyvislane, Liscannor and brothers Martin (35) and John (29) McNamara, of Tarmon west, Kilkee.
They appeared in relation to two separate incidents at Liscannor filling station in July 2005.
The Malone brothers denied assaulting the owner of the business, Michael Cahir, and the McNamara brothers denied assaulting him, causing him harm. All four also denied a charge of criminal damage.
Michael Cahir, a native of Ballyduff, Barefield, said the Malone brothers went into his shop on the evening of July 15.
“They came in demanding a P45 for Michael’s wife, who I had dismissed several months previously,” said Mr Cahir.
He said he did not give them the P45 and they started spitting, kicking, insulting and threatening him. He claimed he got “several” blows and Joseph Malone tore his t-shirt.
Two days later, on July 17, Mr Cahir said the McNamara brothers – related through marriage to the Malone brothers – caught him from behind, “flung” him and threatened him.
He said they punched and kicked him and Martin McNamara headbutted him. John McNamara struck him once and the two brothers threw him out over the boundary wall on his premises.
Gda Michael Burke went to Michael Malone’s home on July 15 and said there was a strong smell of drink from his breath.
“He denied assaulting Michael Cahir but admitted there was pushing and shoving,” said Gda Burke.
One woman who was working at Mr Cahir’s filling station when the Malones entered said there was some pushing and shoving going on at the door of the shop and when her boss went back in to the shop, his t-shirt was torn.
Another employee of Mr Cahir was working on July 17 when the two McNamaras approached her boss.
She said Mr Cahir was lying over the wall and two men were holding his shoulders. She said Mr Cahir’s t-shirt was torn but she did not see him being hit.
A woman who lives close to Mr Cahir’s premises, said she heard a ‘racket’ on July 17. “Mr Cahir jumped over the wall into the field,” she said, adding that she did not see any blows.