State to fast-track feud charges case

A judge has said she expects progress to be made concerning a father and son who are currently in custody facing a series of charges in connection to an ongoing feud in Mullingar between two rival factions.

Michael Nevin Sr (61), from Dalton Park, Mullingar, and Michael Nevin Jnr (39), Grange Heights, Mullingar, have both spent the last six weeks on remand since first appearing at a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on August 7 last.

Bar worker Mr Nevin Jr was charged with assault causing harm to Anthony Dinnegan, who is in his 20s, threatening to kill or cause him serious harm, and the production of a black handled kitchen knife as a weapon during a dispute, on August 2 at Austin Friar Street, Mullingar.

That incident led to Anthony Dinnegan suffering knife wounds to his liver, bowel, and lung, the court was told.

The father of four was further accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Lucy Dinnegan and her son, 20-year-old Oliver, at their home in Greenpark, Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, on July.

A further charge that alleged Mr Nevin Jnr was found travelling in a stolen Mercedes car on August 7, 2024, at Cloncollig Roundabout, Tullamore, Offaly, without a licence or insurance is also part of the state case.

His father, Michael Nevin Sr (61), was charged with unlawfully being carried in the same car in Tullamore on August 7 and making threats to kill Oliver Dinnegan and his 19-year-old brother Johnnie on July 4.

Sgt Paul McNally, at a sitting of Mullingar District Court last Thursday, said the case was unable to progress at present owing to the fact directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were still outstanding.

The court was told that the defence teams for both defendants were willing to consent to a further remand in custody, but only for a two-week period.

Sgt McNally said, in response, gardaí were working as “diligently” as possible on assembling a file for the consideration of the DPP and that an incident room had also been set up as part of the investigation.

Judge Owens remanded both men in custody to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on October 3 and marked the case file “for progress” on that occasion.