This article is from page 18 of the 2006-07-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A YOUNG Shannon woman, charged last week with the attempted murder of her husband and three children last September, will re-appear in court on Thursday.
Agnes O’Shaughnessy (27), of 12 Purcell Park, Shannon, appeared before Shannon District Court last Thursday, charged with the attempted murder of her husband George O’Shaughnessy, her twin boys Lee and Evan Hickey (both 7) and her daughter Sophie O’Shaughnessy (3), contrary to common law, last September.
The four were rescued by gardaí from the family home in Purcell Park, early on the morning of September 25 and taken to hospital, where they were treated for smoke inhalation. The blaze was brought under control by units from Shannon fire brigade.
Detective Garda Stephen Ryan gave evidence of arresting the accused at her home at 9.25am last Thursday.
She was taken to Shannon Garda Station where she was charged, and made no reply to the charges.
An application for free legal aid, made by the accused’s solicitor Aideen Pendred, was granted.
Inspector Tom Kennedy said the accused had been assigned free legal aid, under other charges which were already in the system and he did not object to the application.
“Bail doesn’t arise in this case. Because of the seriousness of the charges, bail cannot be granted in this court,” said the inspector.
Judge Joseph Mangan granted a request by Inspector Kennedy to have the accused remanded in custody, to appear before Shannon District Court this Thursday.
At a previous sitting of the District Court last September, Ms O’Shaughnessy was charged with committing arson, without lawful excuse, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.
She was also charged with intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct, to wit committing arson, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another contrary to Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, at Purcell Park, Shannon, on September 25 last.
On that occasion she was granted bail, on a number of conditions, including that she would reside with her sister Angela, while access to her children would be supervised by the Health Board and she would attend for psychiatric assessment.
In December, her bail conditions were changed, to allow access to her children be supervised by family members, while she also agreed to live with her mother in Shannon.