Four men prosecuted for entering Offaly land for hunting without permission
Warrants issued after fail to appear and were not represented before Tullamore District Court
FOUR men are being prosecuted for allegedly entering land in Offaly for hunting without permission.
Timmy Casey (47), Clonlong Halting Site, Limerick; Owen Treacy (28), St Senan's Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick; Patrick McDonagh (29), Castlepark, Ballybane, Galway and Michael McDonagh (32), Drumbane, Birr, Offaly were all summonsed by Garda Conor Muldoon, Birr.
It is alleged that they entered land at Thomastown, Rath, Birr to hunt wild animals or birds without the landowner's permission.
When the prosecutions came before Judge Michael Connellan at Tullamore District Court, Patrick Martin, solicitor, said he was representing Mr Treacy and Patrick McDonagh.
Mr Martin sought disclosure of evidence for both men and explained that they were not in court because Patrick McDonagh's partner was in hospital and Mr Treacy had been planning to travel with them.
Judge Connellan noted that the other two defendants were not present in court either. “I'm here and they can't be here,” he remarked.
Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court that Mr Martin had been in contact the previous evening to indicate that neither of his clients would be present.
Judge Connellan adjourned the prosecutions against Owen Treacy and Patrick McDonagh to September 11 next and issued bench warrants for Timmy Casey and Michael McDonagh.