Connacht Tribune
Victims traumatised after daylight attack in Roundstone
An emigrant could no longer enjoy family holidays in Roundstone and a local man was too afraid to attend Mass after the trauma of being set upon by three young men on the day of the village regatta.
Ian McDonagh, 23, of Toombeola, Roundstone, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm against Michael O’Regan and violent disorder on July 19, 2014.
Michael and Jason O Neachtain of Derryrush, Rosmuc, 22-year-old twins, pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Further charges were withdrawn on the guilty plea.
Garda Shane Nallen told Clifden District Court he had responded to reports of an assault in Roundstone on regatta day. He met with Mark Worley, his father Sid Worley and Michael O’Regan.
“I could see they had injuries consistent with an assault. They informed me they had been out in Roundstone, they were drinking on the street as there was music, when a group of males began to shout at them,” Gda Nallen stated.
Mark Worley and Michael O’Regan left and went to the Shamrock Bar. Soon this group of men arrived at the bar, passing by them and settling at the back of the pub.
“One male started shouting at them and went out the door. Mr Worley called his father to collect him and Michael O’Regan got up to leave when a glass was thrown at him. Ian McDonagh started shouting at Mr O’Regan, ‘I’ll f..king kill you’”.
Mark Worley got up to leave after hearing the glass break. McDonagh then roared at him: “I’ll f..king kill you. I’ll f..king kill you Worley.”
“Michael O’Regan was walking when he was jumped from behind and brought to the ground. Ian McDonagh began to kick Mr O’Regan in the head numerous times,” Gda Nallen told the court.
“Sid Worley arrived and Ian McDonagh and two associates, Michael and Jason O Neachtain, who also carried out the assault, surrounded the car and jumped on the car and kicked the windscreen causing it to smash.”
The incident had a lasting impact on Sid Worley, an elderly man who lived alone and was in fear at home as he continued to live near McDonagh.
Barrister for Jason O Neachtain, Fiachra Breathnach, told the court that words were exchanged the previous weekend which had sparked the incident.
“They had been having words with an elderly man and it stemmed from that,” he remarked.
Mr O’Regan said he had been returning to Roundstone from his adopted home in Florida since 2004 with his wife, who was a Worley, bringing their three children with them. Now he felt like a stranger.
“Fond memories have turned into a nightmare … it was the one thing we looked forward to after working hard all year,” he stated.
Instead of their family holiday this year, he had to return to give evidence in the case.
“My brother-in-law Mark can’t go to the local pub on a Friday to have a pint without fear of a confrontation. My wife’s father and brother are not comfortable in their own home.”
Mark Worley said he continued to have many sleepless nights. “I was threatened to be killed. I take that very strongly. It’s not a nice thing to happen,” he testified.
“I have a young family. I’m fearful to go away for work as my wife is too afraid. My father his back door barricaded like Fort Knox. We don’t go to Roundstone – it’s our house, our town. We don’t even to go Mass.”
Mr Worley said on several occasions McDonagh had pulled alongside him in car and he felt intimidated by him even though nothing was said.
“I want a line drawn under it … I just want to get on with my life.”
Barrister for McDonagh, Brendan Browne, said his client wished to formally apologise. “He’s remorseful, he’s ashamed of his behaviour, he regrets his conduct.”
Judge Marie Keane asked if the defendant wished to apologise himself, to which Mr Browne said he did.
Under oath and instructed by the Judge to face both Mr O’Regan and Mr Worley directly, McDonagh said he was sorry for that night and things had gone too far.
Asked if there would be any further difficulties between himself and the injured men, McDonagh replied: “Definitely not.”
The O Neachtain twins issued similar apologies facing the men.
Judge Keane asked all three if they understood the importance of tourism to a village like Roundstone.
Garda Nallen said while the injured parties were not seeking any compensation, he would like to point out that Mr O’Regan had spent €3,000 in flights to give evidence.
Mr Browne, on behalf of McDonagh, said his client had described it as a “moment of madness”. He had a sum of €1,590 in court to help defray the travel costs.
McDonagh, who was employed in the building trade, had a girlfriend who was five months pregnant. Jason O Neachtain was training to be a nurse while helping his father on the family farm.
He was in a car crash two years ago in which a friend lost his life which had changed his outlook on life and led to depression, his barrister Fiachra Breathnach told the court.
Since the birth of his child 18 months ago, his situation has improved and wants to be around to raise his child with his partner.
Michael O Neachtain lived at home and also helped on the farm and worked as a handy man.
He too was in the fatal car crash, which had a profound effect on him and had led to alcohol difficulties.
The O Neachtains were willing to give €300 each to help with travelling expenses.
Judge Keane said the “unprovoked and appalling attack” had had a very serious effect on the victims.
She said they had blighted Mr O’Regan’s connection to a part of the world which he held very dearly, a connection which was particularly important to emigrants.
“No money is going to restore his peace and sanctuary,” she stressed.
Judge Keane also noted that Mr Worsley could not attend Mass which was of significant importance to people in a community such as Roundstone.
She handed McDonagh seven months’ imprisonment but suspended it for two years on condition he had no contact with the injured parties and was of good behaviour.
“You better find somewhere else to park other than beside Mr Worley. You’re simply not to open your mouth to Mr Worley,” she warned.
The O Neachtains were each sentenced two three months, suspended for two years on the same conditions.
A total of €€2,190 was to be handed over to defray Mr O’Regan’s flight costs and a further €500 to pay for Sid Worley’s windscreen.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
