Escalating family feud case concludes at Longford Circuit Court

A father and son who were found in possession of a sawn off pump action shotgun during an escalating family feud had the case against them concluded at Longford Circuit Court.

John Nevin (55), of Columb Drive, and David Nevin (33), the Cedars, Lakepoint, in Mullingar, Westmeath, were convicted of offences under the Firearms Act for unlawful possession of a weapon and five cartridges on August 9, 2023 at Columb Drive.

John Nevin was convicted of three additional related charges for dangerous driving at Ashe Road, Columb Drive and Cathedral View in Mullingar town on the same date.

In summing up the matter prior to sentencing Judge Keenan Johnson outlined the details of the incident on the weekend Mullingar hosted the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann festival.

Detective Inspector Tom Quinn received information about a threat that had been made regarding an ongoing family feud in the Westmeath town. The dispute escalated through social media and there were allegations that John Nevin would be the subject of an arson attack.

The officer, along with another Garda, attended at a house in the Ashe Road area of Mullingar to discuss the threats.

As the officers were leaving the housing estate they saw a car driven by John Nevin make a turn into the estate. The officers noted that the passenger in the front seat was “slumped down”.

When the driver saw the Gardaí the vehicle made “an aggressive” turn and sped off down the road. The vehicle was going so fast the tires were smoking .

John Nevin’s car was driven at “excessive speed” and in an “evasive manner” and failed to stop for Gardai. The officers activated the blue lights, but the car drove on. The vehicle continued at high speed in areas with a large number of pedestrians in town for the Fleadh.

When the car pulled in to Columb Drive the passenger, David Nevin, jumped out with a blue and yellow bag in his hand. He attempted to flee and was followed by Gardaí. The pursuing officers saw him discarded the bag. When the bag was retrieved it contained a sawn-off pump action shotgun and five cartridges.

Detective Inspector Quinn arrested the defendants and John Nevin admitted ownership of the gun, however he said he had no intention of using it, only to threaten the other party.

Having summed up the details Judge Johnson said he “shuddered to think what would have happened” if the Gardaí had not made their timely intervention. The judge said the use of a weapon in the contest of a feud was a particularly aggravating factor.

He described the foiled attack as “pre-planned and premeditated” and a “foolish and irresponsible course of action”.

An assessment of the two men by Probation Services ranked them as “moderate risk of reoffending”. The defendants had brought €15,000 to court and a number of character references. One such referencer, from their parish priest, described the defendants as “good people”.

John Nevin is a father of five, including David Nevin, while the son has represented Ireland in boxing. Both men spent three weeks in custody when initially arrested.

Judge Johnson said John Nevin was the more culpable of the two men, as he had sourced the weapon and been the driver of the vehicle. The judge set a headline sentence of four years for John Nevin, but said it could be reduced to two years and six month when mitigation was factored in.

Judge Johnson said he would further suspend the last 18 months of that sentence for a period of seven years to give Mr Nevin something to work towards.

With regard to David Nevin Judge Johnson said a two and half year sentence could be reduced to one and a half years, and 240 hours of community service could be imposed in lieu of that custodial sentence. David Nevin also entered a bond to be of good behaviour for a period of five years.

Judge Johnson adjourned the commencement of John Nevin's sentence to January 3, 2025 when the defendant must present himself at Mullingar Garda Station to commence his one year prison term.